SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – No. 13 Kutztown women's lacrosse returns to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history Thursday, May 7, traveling to Slippery Rock University as the No. 4 seed in the Atlantic Region to face No. 5 seed and No. 16 nationally ranked Wingate at 1 p.m.

Head coach Kristen Nicholson and assistant coach Tiffany Anderson have been at Kutztown for all three of the program's NCAA Tournament appearances, leading the Golden Bears to berths in 2023, 2024, and now 2026. In both 2023 and 2024, Kutztown (14-6) fell to East Stroudsburg in the opening round of the national tournament. Now, the Maroon and Gold face a new opponent and a new opportunity, meeting Wingate (16-3) for the first time in program history.

Nicholson knows her team belongs on this stage.

"We're honored to have our name called and to have the opportunity to compete for a national championship," Nicholson said. "This team has shown tremendous heart and resilience all season, and we're looking forward to continuing to build on what we've already achieved."

HEATING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME
Kutztown enters the NCAA Tournament playing its best lacrosse of the season. The Golden Bears jumped to No. 13 in the latest national rankings, their highest of the season, riding a wave of momentum into the postseason. The Golden Bears crushed No. 22 Seton Hill by 13 goals (19-6) in the PSAC quarterfinals, then handed undefeated No. 7 East Stroudsburg its first loss of the season in the semifinals, 10-8, holding the Warriors to the fewest goals they scored all year. In the PSAC Championship, Kutztown forced a season-record 22 turnovers against No. 4 Slippery Rock—the most turnovers the Rock committed all season—before falling 11-10 in a heartbreaker.

The Golden Bears are chasing history on multiple fronts. A win Thursday would give Kutztown its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history and its 15th win of the season, tying the single-season program record set in 2024.

THE BRACKET
The Atlantic Region bracket features:

• No. 1 Slippery Rock (first-round bye)
• No. 4 Kutztown vs. No. 5 Wingate (Thursday, May 7, 1 p.m. at SRU)
• No. 2 East Stroudsburg (first-round bye)
• No. 3 West Chester vs. No. 6 Frostburg State (Thursday, May 7 at ESU)

The winner of Kutztown-Wingate will face top-seeded Slippery Rock on Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m.

MEET THE OPPONENT
Wingate is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance and second consecutive, still searching for its first NCAA Tournament victory. The South Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament champions enter at 16-3, having captured their fifth straight SAC regular season title and second tournament championship in program history.

The Bulldogs, like Kutztown, are one of the most dominant defensive teams in Division II. Wingate leads the nation in caused turnovers per game (16.0) and draw control percentage, while ranking fourth nationally in scoring defense (6.42 goals against per game) and fourth in assists per game. The Bulldogs also rank fifth nationally in points per game, sixth in scoring margin, and eighth in scoring offense.

Wingate placed 11 players on the All-SAC teams, led by SAC Attacker and Freshman of the Year Stacy Glover and back-to-back SAC Defensive Player of the Year Kathryn McCabe. 

BY THE NUMBERS
Both teams rank among the national leaders in multiple categories, setting up a clash of styles and strengths.

Scoring:

• Wingate: 459 points (5th in D-II, 27.0 per game)
• Kutztown: 421 points (22nd in D-II, 21.0 per game)

Assists:

• Wingate: 196 (4th in Division II, 10.3 per game)
• Kutztown: 137 (25th in Division II, 6.85 per game)

Draw Controls:

• Wingate: 335 (leads D-II in draw control %, 3rd in draw controls per game)
• Kutztown: 235

Scoring Defense:

• Wingate: 6.42 goals against per game (5th in D-II)
• Kutztown: 8.90 goals against per game (24th in D-II)

Caused Turnovers:

• Wingate: 305 (leads Division II, 16.0 per game)
• Kutztown: 274 (4th in Division II, 13.7 per game)

Ground Balls:

• Wingate: 414 (13th in D-II, 21.79 per game)
• Kutztown: 432 (15th in D-II, 21.60 per game)

KEY PLAYERS
Kutztown: Four Golden Bears earned All-PSAC East honors: first-team defender 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 ranks 10th in Division II with 68 goals in 20 games, leading Kutztown in scoring. Bragg ranks 10th nationally in save percentage at .490. Davis, who ranks fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game, has recorded 66 this season while averaging over 3.0 per game. The senior leads the Bears in ground balls (59), caused turnovers (66), and draw controls (46).

Wingate: Freshman attacker Stacy Glover (SAC Attacker and Freshman of the Year) ranks sixth in Division II with 71 goals in 18 games. Freshman attacker Lauryn Knutson ranks ninth nationally in assists with 50 across 19 games.

Defensively, Kathryn McCabe (back-to-back SAC Defensive Player of the Year), Krysta Churns, and Bree Solero rank 18th, 22nd, and 25th nationally in caused turnovers per game, combining for 127 on the season. Sophie Pavlick ranks fifth in Division II in draw controls per game, averaging over 8.0 with 159 on the season.

QUALITY OPPONENTS
Wingate enters with just three losses, two coming against top-five teams in the country: No. 2 Florida Southern (11-10) and No. 5 Tampa (17-11). The Bulldogs defeated No. 22 Seton Hill (20-9) and previously ranked Lander and Anderson.

All six of Kutztown's losses have come to nationally ranked opponents: No. 14 Pace, No. 7 East Stroudsburg (twice), No. 10 West Chester (twice), and No. 4 Slippery Rock by one goal in the PSAC Championship. The Golden Bears defeated No. 22 Seton Hill (19-6), No. 21 Saint Anselm (21-15), and upset No. 7 East Stroudsburg (10-8) in the PSAC semifinals.

Opening draw is set for 1 p.m. Thursday at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.