EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University lacrosse assistant coach Rachel Ward has been named interim head coach of the Warriors, ESU Director of Athletics Dr. Allen Snook announced on Thursday. Eighth-year head coach Xeni Barakos-Yoder steps away from the program on medical leave as she welcomes her second child and is expected to resume her position as head coach later this season.
Additionally, former ESU All-Americans Hana Cicerelle '20 M'21 and Kayleigh Pokrivka '21 M'22 are joining the program to assist as volunteers for the Warriors. ESU is ranked No. 1 in Division II in both the IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Polls.
"I have all the faith in the world in Rachel," Barakos-Yoder said of her assistant. "She will continue to lead the team in the right direction. We have had many conversations on scenarios and I trust she will uphold the standards we have built. The team understands the expectations of the program and should be living that daily in my absence."
Ward, who was named the NCAA Division II Outstanding Assistant Coach by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association in November, takes over the helm of the program immediately. Since joining the coaching staff in July 2019, she has helped lead the Warriors to a 36-7 record with appearances in the national semifinals both seasons (2021 and 2022), and the program's first NCAA Division II championship game appearance and national runner-up finish in 2022.
This past summer, Ward represented Ireland as a player in the World Lacrosse Women's World Championship for the second time in her career. As a standout at Lock Haven, Ward was a three-year starter for the Bald Eagles and was an All-PSAC selection in 2013 and 2015. The Bald Eagles advanced to the NCAA DII Quarterfinals in 2013 and finished as the national runner-up in 2014 and 2015. Lock Haven also captured the PSAC Women's Lacrosse Championship in 2014 and 2015.
Ward guided Emily Mitarotonda, Gianna LeDuc and Kiki Fitzpatrick, who all set records for points in a season at ESU in 2022. The trio ranks in the top-three in points in a season in program history and all ranked in the top-12 nationally in total points in DII.
Mitarotonda, who was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason National Player of the Year entering her junior year this spring, already ranks ninth in program history in goals (137), 19th in assists (34) and 13th in points (171) in just two seasons.
The Warriors' two new volunteers to the staff are among the best to ever play their respective positions at ESU.
"I am overjoyed to be adding two of ESU's best to the coaching squad this spring," Barakos-Yoder mentioned of her former All-Americans. "KP and Hana have lived the life of these athletes and the culture of this team firsthand. They understand completely what I want and how I want it done, they will do a great job assisting Rachel this spring."
Cicerelle is the Warriors' all-time leader in career points with 270, ranking second all-time in both goals (180) and assists (89). She was pivotal in ESU's NCAA semifinalist run in 2021, recording 48 goals, 16 assists for 64 points in 16 games, including five goals against Queens in the NCAA semifinal contest. A three-time All-PSAC selection, she earned IWLCA All-America third team accolades in 2021 and earned All-Region first team in the three consecutive seasons. She was recognized on the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for her impressive academic and athletic accomplishments, becoming just the third Warrior in program history to earn the honor and the first since 1996.
Pokrivka completed her Warrior career as one of the most accomplished defenders in program history, earning IWLCA All-America first team (2022), IWLCA All-Region (2022, 2018) All-PSAC East first team (3x), PSAC East Defender of the Year (2022), PSAC Top-10 (2022) and was ESU's nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year a season ago. She started all 74 games during her career, registering 232 ground balls, 179 caused turnovers. She led the Warriors in both ground balls (81) and caused turnovers (66) during her All-America campaign, as ESU ranked first nationally in ground balls per game and sixth in caused turnovers per game.
Both currently work as full-time nurses, with Cicerelle working at Water Gap Wellness Center and Pokrivka at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Over the past seven seasons, Barakos-Yoder has led the Warriors to new heights, posting a career record of 95-25 and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of the past five seasons. In three of the past four seasons, ESU has reached the NCAA Semifinals (2018, 2021) and its first NCAA National Championship appearance in 2022. She earned IWLCA DII Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2018, 2021 and 2022, along with earning PSAC Coach of the Year in twice (2016, 2018).
No. 1 ESU opens the season on Sunday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m. against No. 13 Seton Hill at Whitenight Field.
