EAST STROUDSBURG -- Trailing 11-9 with 14:18 to play, the No. 7 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team rallied to score the final four goals of the contest to down No. 15 Pace, 12-11, in an instant classic at Whitenight Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors (5-0, 1-0 PSAC East) remain undefeated through the non-conference portion of its schedule. The Setters (4-1, 1-0 NE10) fall for the first time this season with the tough loss.

Redshirt junior Kiki Fitzpatrick (2G, 4A) and freshman Sophia Graffeo (4G) paced the Warrior offense with 10 of its 20 points on the day. Fitzpatrick posted six of ESU's 13 draw controls

After Pace increased its lead to 11-8 at the 14:18 mark in the fourth quarter, the ESU defense would not allow a goal the rest of the way, as Lauren Neufeld registered her first two goals this season in dramatic fashion to get the Warriors within a single goal at 11-10. After a Warrior yellow card, ESU evened the contest for the first time since it was 1-1 with a woman-down goal from Gianna LeDuc with 8:05 to play.

GK McKenzie Gaghan (2-0) made a clutch save with 2:06 left on a free position shot, as ESU raced down the field and called timeout. After earning a free position attempt of its own, Gianna LeDuc buried the eventual game-winning goal with 1:25 to play, as Kayleigh Pokrivka caused a Pace turnover on its game-tying attempt to seal the dramatic non-conference win for the Warriors.

Notables

• Joining Graffeo and Fitzpatrick on the stat sheet were LeDuc (2G, 1A) Neufeld (2G, 1A), Emily Mitarotonda (1G, 1A), Maddie Heck (1G) and Madison Bagatta (1A.)
• GK Gaghan posted her best performance so far this season, making 10 saves against Pace to pick up her second consecutive victory.
• Kayleigh Pokrivka was on a tear for ESU on the defensive end with seven caused turnovers and four ground balls. Maggie Sell added three CTs and five ground balls. Heck, Allie Sweeney and Kristen Andreychak also caused multiple turnovers.
• The Setters were led offensively by Aleya Corretjer (4G, 2A) and Sydney Juvelier (4G), who combined for eight of Pace's 11 goals. Pace GK Kate Laico made 11 saves in her first loss of the season.
• Both teams were even in terms of shots (29-29), while ESU held a 23-21 lead on shots on goal. Pace committed three more turnovers than ESU (23-20), while the Setters earned four more ground balls (33-29) than the Warriors. Pace posted 14 draw controls to ESU's 13.
• The win evened the all-time series between the schools at 1-1. The No. 9 Warriors dropped a tight 11-10 contest to #14 Pace by a score of 11-10 on March 9, 2019.
• ESU's 5-0 start is tied for the second best start to a season in program history. The Warriors most recently started a season 5-0 in 2017 (also in 2008, 1998, 1996).
• The win marked ESU's first national-ranked victory over a non-PSAC institution since the Warriors defeated No. 16 Saint Leo on the road during the abbreviated 2020 season.

How it Happened

• Fitzpatrick opened the scoring to give ESU the early lead, but it would not last as Pace scored three -consecutive tallies to take a 3-1 advantage.
• Graffeo and Mitarotonda sandwiched a Pace goal to cut the deficit to 4-3 with 12:18 to go in the first half. Pace built a three-goal lead, but Heck came up with a timely goal with 3:07 left in the half to cut the Setters' lead to two at 7-5 entering halftime.
• Graffeo put the Warriors within one to open the scoring in the second half, but the Setters refused to relinquish the lead, scoring three of the next four goals to establish an 10-7 advantage.
• The Warriors closed the third quarter strong with Graffeo's fourth goal of the contest, as ESU trailed 10-8 after three quarters of play.
• Juvelier opened the fourth quarter scoring with an unassisted goal to increase its lead back to three goals at 11-8.
• Neufeld sparked the comeback with a pair of quick goals with 13:36 and 11:44 to play, as suddenly ESU was in striking distance at 11-10.
• LeDuc's woman-down goal tied the contest, as the Westtown, N.Y. native would score the game-wining goal on a free position to lift ESU to its fifth victory of the season.

Up Next

• ESU turns its head to No. 5 West Chester (5-0) on Tuesday, March 22.
• The rematch of the 2021 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship is set for 4:00 p.m. at Vonnie Gros Field.