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EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore
Krista Mitarotonda totaled three goals and a career-high four assists, while senior
TJ Jefferis added four goals and a pair of helpers to help No. 14 East Stroudsburg University conclude the regular season with a 14-8 victory over Bloomsburg at Whitenight Field on Wednesday.
The Warriors (13-4, 10-2 PSAC) ended the game on a 6-0 run to secure a first round bye in next week's PSAC tournament. The Huskies (10-6, 6-5 PSAC) were held off the scoreboard for the final 19 minutes of regulation.
Junior
Tatyana Petteway delivered another strong performance in goal for the home side, finishing with 14 stops and a .636 save percentage. ESU outscored Bloomsburg 9-4 overall in the second half after holding a slim 5-4 advantage at halftime.
With the victory, the Warriors can finish no lower than second in this year's PSAC standings. ESU would move into the top spot, and have an opportunity to host the conference tournament, if West Chester loses at IUP on Saturday.
Jefferis had four of ESU's five goals in a low-scoring opening half, as the teams combined for three goals in the first 23 minutes of the contest.
Goals by senior
Brooke Fritz and junior
Hana Cicerelle in the first 90 seconds set the tone for a more offensive second half. The score was 8-8 with just under 19 minutes to play, when an unassisted strike by senior
Emma Rufolo put the Warriors ahead for good.
Rufolo and Mitarotonda each recorded second-half hat tricks for the home side. Rufolo finished with three goals and an assist overall, while Cicerelle chipped in two goals and Fritz supplied a goal and an assist.
Sophomore
Shannon Dent tallied the other ESU goal in the opening half. Rufolo picked up a team-high five ground balls, and sophomore
Gillian McEvoy led the way with three caused turnovers.
Mitarotonda now leads the PSAC in both goals (57) and points (73) after today's performance. The 2018 IWLCA DII first team All-America selection has totaled seven or more points six times in her first two collegiate seasons.
Petteway recorded a save percentage of .500 or higher for a 15th time in 17 appearances on the year. She has a .565 save percentage on the year, a figure which leads all of Division II.
Today's game matched up two of the top three teams in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings released earlier in the afternoon. ESU maintained its No. 2 position, while Bloomsburg came into the contest ranked No. 3 in the region. The top four teams in the final rankings, released after conference tournament play, will be selected to the 16-team DII tournament field.
NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Atlantic Region Rankings – April 24, 2019
| Rank |
School |
Record (through 4/23) |
| 1 |
West Chester |
13-2 |
| 2 |
ESU |
12-4 |
| 3 |
Bloomsburg |
10-5 |
| 4 |
Mercyhurst |
10-5 |
| 5 |
Seton Hill |
9-6 |
| 6 |
IUP |
9-5 |
