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EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore Krista Mitarotonda made sure her one goal of the day was a memorable one.

Mitarotonda fired in the game-winning goal with 50 seconds left in overtime, as No. 8 East Stroudsburg University rallied from a 14-11 deficit late in the second half to complete a 15-14 victory over No. 4 West Chester at Whitenight Field.

The Warriors (7-2, 4-0) are now alone in first place in the PSAC standings after earning their first home win over the Golden Rams (6-2, 3-1) since 2003.

"We persevered until the end of the game," head coach Xeni Barakos-Yoder said. "We didn't hang our heads and were able to pick up an awesome win. Our defense did a fantastic job shutting them down in overtime. They're the ones who gave us a chance to finish on the other end."

Junior Tatyana Petteway made a season-high 18 saves in goal, including 11 in the second half and overtime combined, to keep ESU in the contest throughout. Despite those efforts, however, the Warriors trailed 14-11 with 2:27 left in regulation after a goal by West Chester's Drew McKinney.

ESU, which lost nine of the first 11 draw controls in the second half, won each of the next three to setup its late comeback. Senior Emma Rufolo, who won two of those draws, began the rally on a free position strike with 1:55 on the clock.

Rufolo then set up senior TJ Jefferis 21 seconds later to reduce the deficit down to a single goal. Sophomore Kayleigh Pokrivka won the ensuing draw, and Rufolo leveled up the score on another free position effort with 53 seconds left.

Petteway made one last save in the closing seconds of regulation, and she had another big stop on Emily Schulze with two seconds remaining in the first three-minute overtime session.

"Tatyana came up huge for us today," Barakos-Yoder said. "She made some saves and was able to consistently move the ball up field. She played an important role, as she always does, in our success."

Senior Brooke Fritz found Mitarotonda for the game-winner on ESU's second shot of the overtime period. The Warriors have now won three of their last four matchups overall against the Golden Rams.

Junior Hana Cicerelle had a team-high five points (2 G, 3 A) for ESU. Jefferis added three goals, Fritz had a goal and three assists, and Rufolo contributed two goals, two assists, four draw controls and three ground balls.

The Warriors extended their winning streak to five games, and they earn the program's second-ever win over an opponent ranked in the top five nationally. The first such victory was last year's 16-14 triumph over then-No. 5 West Chester in the Division II Atlantic Region final.

ESU remains at Whitenight Field for its next contest, a 12 p.m. tilt against Slippery Rock on Saturday. That contest will also be the team's fourth annual Alyssa Oxenford Memorial Game.
 
Oxenford, a three-year starter at defender for the Warriors, passed away in August 2015 after being diagnosed with leukemia the previous year. Donations collected at the game will benefit a scholarship through the ESU Foundation awarded in Alyssa's name.