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The Triple Crown: Paulina DiFatta’s Journey from New York to Elon to the Women’s Lacrosse League
Troy L. Sayles

Rising Phoenix by Chase Strawser

The Triple Crown: Paulina DiFatta’s Journey From New York To Elon To The Women’s Lacrosse League

ELON, N.C. – 661 saves. That's the mark Paulina DiFatta reached at the end of her collegiate career. A standout goalie at three different lacrosse programs, she set the single-season saves record at each stop – including Elon University.

Now, as a founding member of the Maryland Charm in the newly formed Women's Lacrosse League (WLL), DiFatta is once again breaking new ground. However, her path from the fields of New York to the sport's professional stage has been anything but ordinary.

Northeast Beginnings
Growing up on Long Island, it was only a matter of time before DiFatta had a lacrosse stick in her hands.

"When I was four years old, I started playing lacrosse," DiFatta said. "My parents were really great about having us try out every sport. But since lacrosse was so popular here, and a lot of my friends were playing, my older sister played, they threw me into lacrosse, and I loved it right off the bat."

DiFatta's path was decided on a whim during a youth tournament.

"We didn't have a goalie, and my coach was asking for one, and I was like, 'I was a soccer goalie, let me try,'" DiFatta recalled. "'Let me see if I could take anything I know from the soccer aspect and bring it over to the lacrosse part.' Once I was put into the crease, I really fell in love with the competitiveness that being a goalie brings."

DiFatta's record-breaking roots began at Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, New York, compiling 500 saves across her three seasons as a starter. But her journey was not without adversity. 

Throughout her career, DiFatta has torn her ACL three times, the first during a crucial recruiting stretch in her sophomore year. Despite the injury, a university an hour and a half away from her hometown took a chance on her. 

"I was really lucky. When I got back towards the end of my sophomore year, I had a couple of offers still on the table, one being Fairfield, and I was super grateful for that," DiFatta said. "I ended up committing going into my junior year of high school. It was close to home and had a really good business school."

Shortly after arriving at Fairfield, DiFatta suffered another setback – an ACL tear in her opposite knee. The injury sidelined her for the entirety of her freshman campaign and introduced a mental hurdle alongside the physical toll of recovery.

"When you take out the main reason why you're there, one of the bigger reasons being lacrosse, it puts things into perspective," DiFatta said.

"It took a mental toll on me – tearing your ACL and being a freshman, not really acclimated to college. So I struggled, definitely," DiFatta added. "Then, when it came to my sophomore year, I debated if I wanted to transfer right off the bat, but I wanted to see it through."

The next season unfolded like the pages of a storybook. DiFatta tallied a program-record 211 saves, guided the Stags to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship, and earned All-Rookie Team honors along the way. Despite a season of enormous success, DiFatta could not shake a lingering feeling. 

"My sophomore year, we won our MAAC championship, we did the best we could," DiFatta said. "We had a really great record, went to the NCAA Tournament, and then right after that season, there was a feeling in my gut where I was like, 'This doesn't feel right.'"

The [Maroon &] Gold Standard
Trusting her gut led DiFatta to enter the transfer portal, a decision that ultimately brought her to Elon University. What she discovered at Elon was more than just a new team – it was a fresh start and a new opportunity.

"I took a visit, loved North Carolina, loved the coaching staff," DiFatta said. "We had [head coach] Josh Hexter and [assistant coach] Beth Ellis at the time, and [assistant coach] Katrina Geiger. Katrina is one of the best defenders in the world. I had the pleasure of playing with her for three seasons at Athletes Unlimited – an amazing player, an amazing person. I decided to commit."

DiFatta's relationship with the coaching staff reached all the way to the top, as she developed a bond with head coach Josh Hexter.

"[Josh Hexter] had such a winning mentality," DiFatta said. "He really wants to win the CAA. He even mentioned winning the 'natty.' And it was very appealing to me to go to Elon to begin with, and then when I got there, I worked with him a lot.

"He really made me mentally strong," DiFatta added. "We had a relationship where he was able to say things to me to fire me up. I'm the kind of player where you could say whatever to me, knowing he doesn't mean it, and I'll use it as motivation to play 20 times better. It was amazing having a coach that I was very comfortable with."

DiFatta made an immediate impact on the field. In her first season in the maroon and gold, she started 17 games and set the program record for most saves in a single season with 160, earning a spot on the CAA All-Tournament Team.

The following season in 2020, DiFatta's campaign was stalled by her recovery from her third ACL injury and the COVID-19 pandemic.

She followed up another setback with another historic season, racking up 92 saves with a .529 save percentage and earning a USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American Honorable Mention.

In addition to her consistency in the field, DiFatta continued to expand her knowledge off the field through multiple opportunities in Elon's Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. 

"I had amazing teammates as well who took me in and made me feel at home since day one," DiFatta said. "And then on top of that, the business school – I was Vice President of the Real Estate Club throughout my time at Elon, went to New York City, and did a bunch of company visits. 

"I didn't know that there was professional lacrosse after college," DiFatta added. "My main focus was finance and the business school, which allowed me to do both."

More important than a program record or championship appearance, DiFatta rediscovered her love for lacrosse at Elon.

"My passion for lacrosse started at a young age, and I always knew I would continue my lacrosse journey in college because of how much I truly love the sport," DiFatta said. "I felt like my passion for the sport didn't fade, but it definitely dwindled when I got to college, especially after my ACL injury. During that time, my mental health struggled, and I reached a point where I wasn't happy.

"When I made the move to Elon, I found that love for lacrosse all over again," DiFatta added. "It made me play 20 times better, because I was in an atmosphere where I felt supported on and off the field. It allowed me to break those records, but those records are not just an individual thing. I credit my team, I credit my defense that I had in front of me. I always felt like I was a part of a team, even though you're the goalie, you're a single player in the crease. Every time I stepped on the field, I always felt such love and support."

Up to this point in her journey, DiFatta's career was anything but ordinary. ACL tears in 2017 and 2019 bridged two of the most impressive seasons imaginable for a college lacrosse goalie, including her record-breaking 2019 campaign for the Phoenix. That's not a typo – DiFatta played nearly the entire season for Elon without an ACL.

"Not a lot of people know that, but I played 95% of that season with no ACL and a partial meniscus," DiFatta said.

With each setback, DiFatta became stronger and always seemed primed for a major comeback.

The Triple Crown: Paulina DiFatta's Journey from New York to Elon to the Women's Lacrosse League

A Chance At History
While she had rekindled her love for lacrosse at Elon, DiFatta also had her sights set on professional growth. Balancing the two started to feel improbable as DiFatta became interested in pursuing a master's degree.

"I already had my bachelor's, my [Bachelor of Science in Business Administration] in finance, and I really wanted my master's degree," DiFatta said. "When I spoke to my academic advisor, the master's programs at Elon just did not tie well with the athletic program. A lot of the classes would be either during practices or during game times, which was not going to work."

DiFatta began to explore her options and met with Hexter about her potential move.

"I was scared talking to Coach Hexter about it, just because I didn't want him to feel like he did something wrong, or that Elon did something wrong," DiFatta said. "When I spoke to him, all that stress and nervousness got washed away because he was so supportive."

Then came an opportunity unlike any other. The ACC, a conference known for its dominance in lacrosse over the years, was adding a program to its catalog of women's lacrosse – the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.

"I committed in late October to Pitt," DiFatta said. "Pitt is giving me an opportunity without even seeing me post-ACL, and it's an inaugural season in the ACC. You can only make history once, right?"

With stints in the two mid-major conferences, the MAAC and CAA, under her belt, DiFatta saw her move to a Power Five conference as a chance to put people on notice.

"I went from the MAAC to the CAA to the ACC, and going to the ACC, my biggest goal was 'I want to show people that there's talent across the board,'" DiFatta said. "There are some really talented players at the mid-major level. I want to challenge that and show people that there's incredible talent everywhere, and we need to recognize and give them the credit they deserve."

For the third time in her career, at three different programs, in three different conferences, DiFatta set a single-season program record for saves. Her 198 saves during Pitt's inaugural 2022 campaign remain the benchmark for the Panthers to this day.

Welcome To The Big Leagues
When DiFatta graduated from Pitt with a master's degree in management, she had aspirations of playing professional lacrosse but was uncertain if those dreams would come to fruition. Over the last decade, professional women's lacrosse has taken on many forms, the latest at the time being Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse. Athletes Unlimited is a women's professional sports organization that has launched multiple leagues over the years, spanning basketball, softball, volleyball, and lacrosse.

In 2022, DiFatta was focused on building her career as a business professional in Charlotte, North Carolina. After receiving an email from Athletes Unlimited, DiFatta knew there was a possibility that she could be one of 15 players selected in the College Draft, but did not put too much weight into the prospect.

"I moved to Charlotte post-Pitt graduation with a few friends, and I knew that they were hosting the draft that night, so I had turned it on, I knew maybe I had a slight chance," DiFatta said. "I turned it on just to support women's lacrosse and see who got picked up. Then I saw my name, I was so surprised."

"I called my parents right away. They were watching, and we were so stoked," DiFatta added.
 

Athletes Unlimited played each of its seasons at USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, a landmark for the growth of the game and the collection of its history over the years.

"It was truly a dream," DiFatta said. "For someone who loves lacrosse so much, the whole experience is a dream come true. I remember playing [at USA Lacrosse Headquarters] my sophomore year and having photos of myself in front of the stadium, just so happy to be there, just to be playing a fall ball game there."

"It was a full circle moment, for sure," DiFatta added. "Then you bring in the top lacrosse players, and they've become some of my closest friends, both on and off the field. We push each other to be better, and that bond has turned into something really special." 

"I also had the opportunity to play for Morgan's Message for three seasons at Athletes Unlimited, where I helped raise awareness for mental health in sports," DiFatta added. "It was a powerful experience that not only allowed me to connect with other athletes but also inspired me to advocate for mental well-being and continue breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics."

Though her appearances across three seasons in Athletes Unlimited were limited, DiFatta proved she belonged on the professional stage.

A Charm-ing Future
In 2019, the same year DiFatta broke Elon's single-season program record for saves, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) launched. While in its early years, the league made strides to highlight the women's side of the sport, including launching Unleashed, "a media and event platform designed to support the growth and visibility of girls and women in the sport of lacrosse."

The creation of Unleashed opened up opportunities for DiFatta to compete in the Unleashed All-Star Game during the PLL's 2024 Championship Series and travel to Japan for international exhibition games.
 

"The game in Japan is growing so much. We had the stands packed, we had fans outside our buses," DiFatta said. "To see it in a different country – we see lacrosse growing in the United States at an exponential rate, but to go to Japan and see it for yourself in a different country – puts things into perspective like no other."

The efforts by the PLL culminated in the launch of the Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) in 2025. DiFatta was as surprised and excited as the average fan hearing about the news for the first time on ESPN.

"When they announced the WLL, I was at the gym, and I had a bunch of texts," DiFatta said. "I was like, 'What is going on?' So I checked my Instagram, I saw the launch of it, and I'm really good friends with Charlotte North and Ally Mastoianni, all these amazing players. But I had no idea that this was going to be happening."

DiFatta was selected as a founding member of one of the league's four inaugural teams – the Maryland Charm – a moment she still struggles to put into words.
 


"This is the time for women's sports," DiFatta said. "There are so many eyes on us right now. I'm so proud to be playing in the WLL. It's truly a dream come true, and then playing for the Maryland Charm, for Alex Aust and Lizzie Colson, who are my captains, and that whole experience was beyond anything I could have imagined."

"I kind of get choked up thinking about it, because that was my dream – being on a professional team, representing cities, and playing at the highest level with such incredible players," DiFatta added. "Growing up, playing professional sports was something I always aspired to, but I didn't know if it was actually going to happen."

The rise of the WLL reflects a broader movement in women's sports – from the WNBA's continued growth to the successful launch of the PWHL. DiFatta sees the WLL as the latest part of that wave.

"It feels like this will be our last stop in regards to leagues, especially with everything on the women's basketball side, like the Caitlin Clark effect, and then you got the PWHL that started up, and they have such an amazing turnout," DiFatta said. "This feels right. We had a couple of days with sold-out crowds, and looking into the stands, seeing all those kids – it's such an amazing feeling. It truly feels like we've come so far."

"To know we're inspiring the next generation is incredibly rewarding," DiFatta added. "It's a strong reminder of why we started and how much more we can accomplish together."

Lacrosse is set to return to the Summer Olympic Games in 2028, hosted in Los Angeles, California. It will mark the sport's first appearance in the Olympics since 1908 and the first time the Summer Olympics will be hosted on U.S. soil since 2002. The competition will showcase the "sixes" format – a fast-paced variation of traditional lacrosse featuring fewer players, a shorter field, and limited stoppages. For players like DiFatta, it presents a historic opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest stage.

"Having the WLL has been such a blessing. The competition, the teamwork and the chance to grow – it's been amazing," DiFatta said. "We're also lucky to have the PLL investing in us and helping take the game to the next level. I'm grateful to be part of it all. I love the Sixes format, it's my favorite. The fast pace and nonstop action make it so exciting. I'm really pumped to see it at the Olympic level and to see more people experience it."

For nearly a decade, DiFatta hasn't just rewritten the record books – she's helping write the future of women's lacrosse.

"I'm still that kid who was playing catch with her dad in the front yard," DiFatta said. "That love that I have for the game, it's still with me to this day. If I have any advice for young kids, it's to find that love you have for the game and hold onto it."
 
'Rising Phoenix' is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Chase Strawser at cstrawser@elon.edu.



 
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Players Mentioned

Paulina DiFatta

#43 Paulina DiFatta

G
5' 7"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Paulina DiFatta

#43 Paulina DiFatta

5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
G