KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team continues to establish itself as a national powerhouse in 2025, earning the No. 13 ranking in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, released Monday morning. Just two weeks ago, the Golden Bears earned the No. 12 spot in the USA Lacrosse Preseason rankings, solidifying their standing among the top teams in the country.

The Golden Bears enter the new season following a record-breaking 2024 campaign, in which they secured a program-best 15 wins and finished No. 12 in the final IWLCA poll. Kutztown also earned its second consecutive NCAA Division II Championship tournament berth, claiming the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region. The Golden Bears faced a tough battle in the opening round, falling 11-7 to No. 3 East Stroudsburg in an aggressive, card-heavy matchup.

Guided by head coach Kristen Nicholson and assistant coach Tiffany Anderson, the Golden Bears have reached national relevance, earning back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances—a first for the program and only the second time they've made it to the tournament in program history. Nicholson's squad also advanced to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship game in 2024, making its first appearance in the conference title game since 1984.

As the second-ranked team in the PSAC heading into the season, Kutztown features three players who earned USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America honors. Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Midfielder of the Year after a standout 2024 campaign, while attacker Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) secured a Third Team selection and defender Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional) earned an Honorable Mention nod.

Kutztown is one of four PSAC programs ranked in the IWLCA Top 25, joining No. 5 West Chester, No. 9 East Stroudsburg, and No. 23 Seton Hill, while Slippery Rock is receiving votes. The Golden Bears' 2025 schedule is packed with ranked competition, featuring matchups against No. 5 West Chester, No. 7 Flagler, No. 9 East Stroudsburg, No. 14 Saint Leo, No. 18 Bentley, and No. 19 New Haven.

Kutztown will open its highly anticipated season on the road at Shepherd on Wednesday, February 26, looking to build on last year's success.