Kutztown University Athletics

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Kutztown University's bid for its first Atlantic Region title came up short, Saturday, as the winningest season in Golden Bear women's lacrosse history came to a close with an 18-12 loss to seventh-ranked East Stroudsburg in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals at Whitenight Field.
 
The Warriors, looking to avenge their only loss of the season to Kutztown in the PSAC semifinals, controlled the opening five minutes to take a quick 4-0 lead. Sadie Kauffman scored three of her game-high nine goals during the stretch to reach the 100-goal mark on the season.
 
Once they found their footing, the Golden Bears (16-7) spent the remainder of the first quarter chipping away at ESU's advantage. Katie Yocum (Hanover, Pa./South Western) scored her 70th goal of the season to get KU on the board with 9:23 to go. Lauren LaMorte (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), Madison Wenner (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) and Sophie Engelhardt (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) also found the back of the net to bring the Bears within 6-4 at the conclusion of the period.
 
ESU (20-1) regained its stronghold on the game in the second, scoring five unanswered goals to go up 11-4. Yocum's free position goal with six seconds left was KU's only goal of the quarter.
 
Kauffman and Lauren Hallman each tallied twice during a 6-0 run to start the second quarter that gave the Warriors their largest lead of the afternoon, 17-5.
 
Kutztown didn't go quietly, ripping off seven unanswered goals while holding the Warriors scoreless for more than 20 minutes across the latter minutes of the third and nearly the entire fourth quarter.
 
Madison Wenner (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) scored three of her team-high four goals during the run, finishing the season with a career-high 42. Engelhardt completed her hat trick with a pair of goals, Maddie Wagner (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) registered her 50th goal of the season and Antonia Troilo (Laurel Springs, N.J./Sterling) also scored for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Sammy Ruwet (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) added a pair of first quarter assists and Noa Schneider (Delta, Pa./Kennard-Dale) earned her first career point with an assist on Engelhardt's late fourth quarter goal.
 
Kutztown was making its first appearance in the NCAA DII quarterfinals after capturing the first two national tournament wins in program history with its 12-8 first round victory over Wingate (May 7) and 9-6 second round triumph over top-seeded and previously unbeaten Slippery Rock (May 9).
 
East Stroudsburg, which improved to 14-0 against KU at Whitenight Field since 2008, outshot the Bears 39-24 and held a commanding 25-7 advantage in draw controls. Kauffman collected 14 of those and Molly Atwell had six.
 
Senior defender Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional) added three more caused turnovers to her program single-season and career records, along with five ground balls. The Beach Haven, N.J., native finished with 77 caused turnovers this season and 199 in her career.
 
Marisa Bragg (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central) made three saves in goal for KU in just under 36 minutes before giving way to Camryn Storey (Hanover, Pa./South Western), who added five stops. Bragg set new season records for wins by a goalie (16) and goals against average (8.78) and caps her career as the program's career leader in GAA (9.09).
 
Kutztown finished as PSAC runners-up for the second time in the last three years and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. The Golden Bears' 16 wins are a new program single-season record, surpassing the former record of 15 set in 2024 (15-6).
 
East Stroudsburg captured its fifth Atlantic Region title and moves on to the NCAA semifinals in Rochester, N.Y., next week.

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