The Pleasant Valley girls lacrosse team has been on the doorstep of a District 11 title in each of the past two seasons.

After runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023, the Bears broke through with a dominant 14-3 win over Easton in the Class 3A final this season.

There was no let up - or let down - in a PIAA Class 3A play-in game against Delaware Valley on May 24, as Pleasant Valley rolled to a 20-4 victory.

With their unbeaten season intact, and District 11 and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference titles in hand, the Bears (23-0) will now focus on their first round matchup at home against Upper Dublin on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

“To reach that pinnacle this season has been extraordinary,” Pleasant Valley head coach Toni Bush said. “One step, one punch, one round at a time. The community is more excited than the team. It’s everywhere. We’re really hoping to fill the stands. Everyone in the community is reaching out. It’s just so nice, especially with lacrosse, because we are the only team in the county.

“To be able to host a state playoff game in Monroe County, it’s huge for the lacrosse community. I really hope it brings some more exposure to the Poconos, and gets people in the Poconos looking at lacrosse as a viable option as a sports program.”

Pleasant Valley will now turn its attention to Upper Dublin (19-2), the fifth-place team out of District 1.

“We’re trying to get our defense prepared for a much faster and more aggressive offense than what we’re used to seeing in District 11,” Bush said. “District 1 is a beast. The schools down near Philly ... it’s been a very heavy lacrosse-concentrated area for decades, and the teams down there that we’re going up against in states are powerful.

“They’re fast, and smart. It’s like moving up a level in lacrosse. That’s what we have to be prepared for.”

The Bears have plenty of firepower of their own, with EPC MVP Devon Bush and Rylee Rath, who was recently named a USA Lacrosse All-American for the 2024 season.

Both Bush and Rath were named to the EPC First Team all-star squad as midfielders, while Cecilia Cordova and Alivia Rath each made the squad at low defense.

“Things are going great,” Bush said. “The team is still working. They are really staying focused, surprisingly, with the end of the school year and everything that comes along with it. They’re really focused in practice.

“We’re working on a few different things to try to prepare. Focused is a good word for them right now. They want it, and don’t want to throw in the towel yet.”

In 18 regular season games, Pleasant Valley has outscored its opponents 291-77.

While the Bears captured their first district title this season, they have won three-straight EPC championships.

Olivia Iandoli (low attack) and Briana Palmieri (low defense) were both EPC Second Team selections.

Pleasant Valley has done a good job of adjusting to other teams throughout the season on both offense, and defense.

Against Delaware Valley, Bush scored a game-high five goals, while Samantha Miller and Rath each scored three times. Iandoli scored twice and had four assists, while Abygail Borger made five saves.

In the district final, Borger stopped 12 shots.

“We’re going to do our best,” Bush said. “We have multiple offenses to try. Until we go up against them, it’s hard to say. We’re not expecting a District 11 game. We’re expecting playing a District 1 game.

“We’re expecting a grudge match, and have to work harder than we have all season. After playing District 11 and some other teams throughout the season, will we be effectively ready? We’re doing our best to get there, and we’ll see what we’re made of.”