Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore Krista Mitarotonda totaled a career-high nine points, while juniors Hana Cicerelle and Cassida McKenna combined for seven goals in a 16-5 season-opening victory for East Stroudsburg University at Georgian Court on Thursday.

The Warriors, ranked No. 7 in the latest IWLCA Division II Coaches' poll, ended the game on an 8-0 run while keeping the Lions (1-3) off the scoreboard for the final 21:52 of the contest. Junior Tatyana Petteway finished with 12 saves and a .706 save percentage in goal.

Mitarotonda, a 2018 first team All-America performer, contributed five goals and four assists in the win. Her nine points were tied for the most by an ESU player in the past 15 years. Cicerelle had four goals and an assist, and McKenna registered three goals and an assist for the Warriors.

ESU quickly led 3-1 after the opening five minutes, with Mitarotonda scoring twice in the first 1:54 and Cicerelle adding a third strike with 25:29 left in the opening half. The visitors ultimately took a 5-2 advantage into the intermission.

Georgian Court's Madison Heck scored the last of her four goals to reduce the home side's deficit to 8-5 eight minutes into the second half. McKenna made it a four-goal margin again with 13:54 left, and she supplied a team-high three goals during ESU's scoring run to end the game.

Senior Emma Rufolo added two goals in the victory, upping her career points total at ESU to 99 as she begins her third year with the program. Senior TJ Jefferis and freshman Madison Bagatta chipped in solo strikes for the Warriors.

ESU ended the game with a 41-22 edge in shots, including a 23-7 margin after halftime. Mitarotonda finished with a team-high six draw controls, and Rufolo caused a team-best four turnovers.

The Warriors have a challenging tilt over the weekend, traveling to No. 2 Adelphi for a 12 p.m. road matchup. The Panthers (2-0) have won three of the last five DII championships, most-recently topping Florida Southern 6-4 in the 2017 national final.