The No. 1-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team returns to No. 3 East Stroudsburg's Whitenight Field on Saturday for a 1 p.m. NCAA Quarterfinal matchup against the Warriors, with the winner advancing to face No. 2 Millersville in the NCAA Semifinals.
 
Shippensburg (17-3) boasts the nation's top record, but has lost both of its 2016 meetings in overtime to East Stroudsburg (15-4). SU lost 1-0 at home on Sept. 17 and 2-1 at ESU on Oct. 22.
 
The Raiders had won six previous meetings with the Warriors from 2011-15 and still hold a 30-20-2 advantage in the all-time series.
 
Shippensburg was just at Whitenight Field last weekend for the 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. SU defeated West Chester, 2-1, in the PSAC Semifinals, before falling to Millersville, 2-1, in the PSAC Championship game.
 
Saturday's contest will feature 12 All-PSAC selections between the two squads (SU – 7, ESU – 5).
 
Shippensburg leads the country with a 0.43 goals-against average (GAA) for the season, having allowed just nine goals in 20 games overall. Three of those goals have been scored by the Warriors. SU has only yielded one goal in the first half this season (six in second half, two in overtime), and leads the country with 13 shutouts overall.
 
East Stroudsburg is the reigning NCAA Division II National Champion and features a talented armada of senior leaders, including 2016 PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year Emily Howell and leading scorer Robin Stevenson. The Warriors have out-scored opponents 50-14 this season and feature goaltender Danielle Ard, who has allowed just 13 goals this season and posted a .831 save percentage.
 
Shippensburg redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Ally Mooney, a two-time All-PSAC honoree, leads the country with a 0.39 GAA and a save percentage of .902. Senior Taylor Fisher, another All-PSAC First Team honoree, helps anchor the defense and has provided six defensive saves to go along with two assists.
 
Senior Katelyn Grazan, a two-time All-PSAC forward, leads the team with nine goals (including a PSAC-best five game-winners) and 19 points. Junior Emily Barnard, an All-PSAC Second Team pick, ranks sixth in the PSAC in goals per game (seven in 13 games), including tallies in four of her eight games since returning from injury.
 
SU is making its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance, all coming since 2003 (12 appearances in 14 years). The Raiders are 5-10 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, last competing in the 2014 NCAA Quarterfinals against Millersville.
 
ESU is making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance, and Saturday will be the first time that it has had an opportunity to host an NCAA Tournament contest at Whitenight Field. The Warriors are 4-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Saturday's winner will face No. 2 Millersville in the NCAA Semifinals on Friday, Nov. 18 at W.B. Mason Stadium in Stonehill, Massachusetts. That match will be held at either 2 or 5 p.m.