SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – No. 15 Kutztown is back in the PSAC semifinals for the third time in four years and is looking to make its second appearance in the PSAC Championship under head coach Kristen Nicholson. In 2023, Kutztown advanced to the PSAC semifinals, and in 2024, the Bears made history by reaching their first PSAC Championship Game since 1984.

Now, the Golden Bears (13-5) have their sights set on win number 14, which would give them the second-most wins in a single season in program history, trailing only Nicholson's historic 15-win campaign in 2024.

No. 15 Kutztown, the No. 3 seed from the East Division, travels to face No. 4 and top-seeded East Stroudsburg (18-0) on Friday, May 1, at 4 p.m. The game will be played at Slippery Rock, the highest remaining Western Division team. The matchup also features a clash of Atlantic Region powers, as East Stroudsburg ranks first in the region while Kutztown sits fifth, announced Wednesday morning.

Nicholson feels her team is primed and ready for the semifinal matchup.

"We're excited to be advancing to the PSAC semifinal and earning another opportunity to compete," Nicholson said. "Our team has been motivated to get back to this stage, and we're looking forward to a great game."

THE BRACKET
Three East Division teams remain in the tournament, with just one from the West. The quarterfinal results from Tuesday, April 28:

Kutztown 19, Seton Hill 6
Slippery Rock 17, Shippensburg 8
East Stroudsburg 21, Lock Haven 6
West Chester 20, IUP 6

The Golden Bears and Warriors are one of two semifinal matchups on Friday:

No. 2E West Chester at No. 1W Slippery Rock | 1 p.m.
No. 3E Kutztown at No. 1E East Stroudsburg | 4 p.m.

All semifinal games are played at Slippery Rock, with the two remaining teams advancing to the PSAC Championship on Sunday, May 3.

A FAMILIAR FOE
East Stroudsburg and Kutztown have crossed paths twice this season (on March 11 and April 4) with the Warriors winning both meetings by double digits. However, the postseason has told a different story in recent years. Over the past four years, the Bears have split postseason games with the Warriors, 2-2 dating back to 2023.

In 2023, Kutztown took a PSAC quarterfinal win, 12-9, before falling to East Stroudsburg in the NCAA first round, 8-15. In 2024, the Bears again won the PSAC quarterfinal, 10-8, but fell in the NCAA first round, 7-11.

Overall, Kutztown is 5-26 all-time against East Stroudsburg, with four of those five wins coming under Nicholson. The Golden Bears are currently on a four-game losing streak to the Warriors. In the two regular-season matchups this season, Madison Wenner (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) led Kutztown with a hat trick in both losses.

BY THE NUMBERS
Both teams have played 18 games this season: Kutztown winning 13 and East Stroudsburg going undefeated at 18-0. Statistically, the Warriors hold advantages across most categories:

Offense:
Goals: Kutztown 264, East Stroudsburg 343 (1st in PSAC)
Assists: Kutztown 127, East Stroudsburg 180

Defense:
Goals Against: Kutztown 159, East Stroudsburg 120
Ground Balls: Kutztown 391, East Stroudsburg 327
Caused Turnovers: Kutztown 238, East Stroudsburg 214
Saves: Kutztown 146, East Stroudsburg 160

Possession:
Draw Controls: Kutztown 223, East Stroudsburg 286 (1st in PSAC)
Turnovers: Kutztown 319, East Stroudsburg 236 (fewest in PSAC)

KEY PLAYERS
Kutztown: Four Golden Bears were named All-PSAC East earlier Wednesday afternoon: first-team selection Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional) and second-team selections Katie Yocum (Hanover, Pa./South Western), Rowan Hall (Sloatsburg, N.Y./Suffern), and Marisa Bragg (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central).

Yocum leads Kutztown with 62 goals and 69 points. Junior Lauren LaMorte (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) paces the team in assists with 34 and ranks second in points with 59. Defensively, senior Davis leads the Bears in ground balls (54), caused turnovers (53), and draw controls (44). Senior goalkeeper Bragg has started every game this season, compiling 137 saves.

In Kutztown's most recent matchup against Seton Hill, nine different Golden Bears found the back of the net, showcasing the team's versatility in offensive threats.

East Stroudsburg: PSAC East Athlete of the Year Sadie Kauffman leads the Warriors and the PSAC in goals (89) and points (119) while sitting second in the conference in draw controls (131). Behind the sophomore, four more Warriors have 50-plus points on the season, including PSAC first-team selections Ariana Tucci (attack) and Lauren Hallman (midfield), and second-team selections Paige Moreland (attack) and Jolee Roth (attack).

The Warriors had seven All-PSAC East selections, also including first-team defender Molly Atwell, who has 36 ground balls, 32 caused turnovers, and ranks second on the team behind Kauffman with 55 draw controls. Additionally, first-team goalkeeper Abby Simonetti is second in the PSAC in goals-against average—allowing fewer than seven goals per game—and leads the conference in save percentage at .609.

TICKET INFORMATION
Championship Admission Fees:
Adults: $12
Students K-12: $7
Free admission for students from member institutions with valid ID
PSAC Passes honored
Tickets can only be purchased via Hudl Tickets. This will be a cashless event. All sales final—no refunds. It is advised to purchase tickets prior to arriving, however, tickets will be available for purchase on-site.