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EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore
Gianna LeDuc totaled a career-high seven points, and sophomore
Krista Mitarotonda added four goals for No. 11 East Stroudsburg University in a 17-5 victory over Shippensburg at Whitenight Field on Wednesday.
LeDuc had four goals and three assists in the win for ESU (12-3, 9-1 PSAC), which clinched a spot in the upcoming PSAC tournament for a third-consecutive season. The Warriors have now won five-straight meetings over the Raiders (4-9, 2-7 PSAC), and they have outscored opponents 56-14 during a current three-game winning streak.
Junior
Michelle Dyck secured her first victory of the season in goal, as she made four saves in the opening half before giving way to junior
Tatyana Petteway and freshman MacKenzie Gaghan after the intermission. Senior
TJ Jefferis and junior
Juliane Fitzsimmons each chipped in three goals offensively for the home side.
ESU never trailed, as Mitarotonda had two goals during a 4-1 run to begin the contest. The second of those two strikes was her 50th of the year. Mitarotonda netted 67 goals during her debut season with the Warriors last spring, a total which ranked second all-time in team history.
The lead was up to 9-3 by halftime, and the ESU defense allowed only two more goals over the final 30 minutes.
The Warriors had a 26-13 advantage in ground balls, and a 15-9 edge in draw controls. Jefferis picked up a team-high seven ground balls, while Mitarotonda won seven draws. Senior
Emma Rufolo and junior
Hana Cicerelle each caused three Raider turnovers in the victory.
LeDuc's previous scoring high in a game was four points, a figure she had reached on two occasions this season. She has 14 points (9 G, 5 A) during ESU's current winning streak. Other goal scorers in today's win included sophomore
Shannon Dent (1 G, 2 A), senior
Brooke Fritz (1 G, 1 A) and junior
Cassidy McKenna.
The NCAA also released its initial Division II Atlantic Region rankings on Wednesday, with the Warriors listed in the No. 2 position. ESU, the defending Atlantic Region champions, is looking to return to the national tournament for a third year in a row. The top four schools in the final rankings, released after conference tournament play, will be selected to the 16-team DII tournament field.
ESU is back in action on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Mercyhurst for a 1 p.m. PSAC matchup. The regular season concludes with a 4 p.m. home contest against Bloomsburg next Wednesday.
NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Atlantic Region Rankings – April 17, 2019
| Rank |
School |
Record (through 4/14) |
| 1 |
West Chester |
11-2 |
| 2 |
ESU |
11-3 |
| 3 |
Bloomsburg |
10-3 |
| 4 |
Seton Hill |
7-6 |
| 5 |
Georgian Court |
10-4 |
| 6 |
Mercyhurst |
8-5 |
