WEST CHESTER, PA – The NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Tournament returns to West Chester University as the top-ranked Golden Rams are set to host the Atlantic Regional for the second time in three years.
West Chester (19-0) will battle Seton Hill (15-4) in the first regional semifinal on Friday at 11 a.m. Kutztown (13-5) will take on East Stroudsburg (13-5) at 3 p.m. in the second regional semifinal. The regional final is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. All three games will take place at Vonnie Gros Field on the campus of West Chester University behind the Sturzebecker Health Science Center.
Tickets to the 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Atlantic Regional are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens (65+). Children between 2 and 5 years of age are $2 while children under 2 are free. No complimentary tickets will be available. All sales are cash only and available only at the gate day of the event.
Fans must park in O-Lot adjacent to the Sturzebecker Health Science Center.
West Chester is making its 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth straight dating back to 2018. The Golden Rams are 17-13 all-time in the tournament while winning the national title twice (2002, 2008). Head coach
Ginny Martino, the all-time winningest women's lacrosse coach in Division II history, has been at the helm of all 16 postseason appearances.
However, this spring, many might argue that Martino brings her most talented group into the national playoff. West Chester has been ranked No. 1 in the country since early March and ranks among the top three schools in most offensive and defensive categories. The team features six all-region players – five of which were named All-America by
US Lacrosse Magazine this past Wednesday.
The Golden Rams' midfield is the strength of this club, along with fifth-year grad student,
Lindsay Monigle (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Cape Henlopen), who runs the "X" for Martino's offense.
Hannah Stanislawczyk (Mohnton, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) and
Keri Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) are among the top four in the country in scoring with 88 points each. Both have dented the twine over 70 times this season as well. Most of their tallies come off feeds from Monigle, who leads the team with 91 points. Monigle needs nine more points for her second consecutive 100-point season. She would only be the third player in school history to accomplish that feat.
All-American goalkeeper,
Jessica Gorr (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), backstops a defensive unit that only allows opponents 19 shots in a game and 14 on goal. The group in front of her might be the best assembled by Martino and her long-time assistant,
Sue Burmester, who has served as Martino's defensive coordinator for the past two decades.
The 2023 edition of the Golden Rams is perhaps the deepest team in recent years. On any given day, eight or nine different players can etch their name on the scoresheet.
The team that comes out of the Atlantic Regional, after Sunday's game, will advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse semifinals in Indianapolis, Ind.
