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TJ Jefferis
So. A TJ Jefferis had 4 goals for the Warriors vs. LIU Post on Friday.

ESU Women’s Lacrosse Edged by No. 4 LIU Post, 12-11

3/24/2017 12:00:00 AM

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EAST STROUDSBURG - Ryan McKinney scored seven goals, including the final two of the contest, as No. 4-ranked LIU Post survived East Stroudsburg University's upset bid, 12-11, in non-conference women's lacrosse on Friday afternoon at Whitenight Field.

ESU (5-1) was led by sophomore attack TJ Jefferis, who scored four goals, and sophomore midfielder Emma Rufolo, who posted two goals, two assists and seven draw controls.

The Warriors were looking for their highest-ranked victory in the last 10 years, entering with an 0-14 mark vs. IWLCA Division II top-five teams since the start of the 2008 season, and took an 11-10 lead with 8:30 remaining on two goals by Jefferis.

The one-goal setback ends ESU's unbeaten start. The Warriors were one victory from recording their best-ever start and tying a school record with their sixth straight win.

Junior midfielder Chessie Rahmer (2 goals, 1 assist), freshman midfielder Hana Cicerelle (2 goals) and senior midfielder Emily Fitzsimmons (1 goal) added to the scoring for ESU. Sophomore attack Brooke Fritz had two assists, and senior attack Lauren Green and sophomore defender Natalie Jacobs both had one assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Tatyana Petteway made 10 saves for the Warriors. LIU Post's Olivia Kirk, who was named the IWLCA DII Goalkeeper of the Year as a sophomore last year, had 10 saves for the Pioneers.

LIU Post (5-1) opened a 3-1 lead 15 minutes into the contest, but the Warriors battled back with goals by Rufolo and Cicerelle to pull even at 3-3. After two Pioneers goals, Rahmer scored on an assist from Green with 30 seconds left in the first half to get the Warriors within 5-4 at intermission.

LIU Post took its biggest lead, 7-4, in the first 3:07 of the second half before a big ESU run.

The Warriors scored five of the next six goals - Rahmer on a free position, Jefferis from Fritz, Rufolo, Cicerelle from Jacobs and Jefferis from Fritz again - to take a 9-8 advantage with 18:45 left.

McKinney scored her fifth of the game to tie it with 11:37 remaining and LIU Post led 10-9 on goal by Connor Bird at the 10:31 mark.

Jefferis got her third and fourth goals within 58 seconds - with 9:28 and 8:30 to play - as ESU led 11-10, but McKinney tied it with 8:02 left and scored the game's final goal with 6:22 showing.

ESU held a 28-24 advantage in shots over the No. 4-ranked Pioneers, held a 12-10 edge in turnovers and 14-11 margin in draw controls.

LIU Post has made seven NCAA Division II Tournament trips in the last nine years, including back-to-back national titles in 2012 and 2013.

ESU returns to PSAC action on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Slippery Rock. The Warriors opened their conference schedule with a 12-9 win vs. Bloomsburg on Wednesday.
 
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