WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- In a rematch of the 2021 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship, the No. 8 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team outlasted a potential West Chester comeback, defeating the No. 5 Golden Rams, 13-9, at Vonnie Gros Field on Tuesday afternoon.
With the win, the Warriors (6-0, 2-0 PSAC East) remain undefeated and have handed West Chester back-to-back losses for just the second time in program history. The Golden Rams drop to 5-1, 1-1 in conference action.
Offensively, ESU was led by Kiki Fitzpatrick and Emily Mitarotonda. Fitzpatrick registered five-goals and an assist and six draw controls. Mitarotonda posted three goals, two assists and earned five draw controls. Gianna LeDuc added five points on a goal and distributed four assists.
The Warriors built an 11-3 mark near the midway point in the third period. With the established eight-goal lead, ESU was able to weather a 6-2 Golden Ram run to close the contest.
Notables
- Joining Fitzpatrick, Mitarotonda and LeDuc in the scoring column were Lauren Neufeld (two goals), Madison Bagatta and McKenna Conklin. Maddie registered an assist to round out the point scorers.
- ESU was led by James Kernaghan with four ground balls. Fitzpatrick and Mitarotonda and Kaylegh Pokrivka scooped three each.
- In the cage, McKenzie Gaghan made 10 saves for the second consecutive game against a ranked team.
- The Warriors led 31-26 in shots, 23-19 on shots on goal, have five fewer turnovers than WCU (26-21), successfully cleared the ball 20 times on 24 attempts, led 14-11 in draw controls and posted nine free position shots to West Chester's five attempts.
- The win, which marked the second consecutive 13-9 win over West Chester, marks just the second time ESU has defeated the Golden Rams in succession.
- The Warriors now trail the all-time series by a mark of 7-63 mark. ESU head coach Xeni Barakos-Yoder has claimed five of those wins during her seven years at the helm of the Warriors. She is now 5-7 all-time against WCU.
- ESU improves to 26-48 against nationally-ranked teams all-time and are now 4-24 in program history against top-5 teams. All four of those wins have come against WCU.
How it Happened
- The Warriors scored the first two goals before West Chester could answer. Mitarotonda and Bagatta scored the first two goals, as ESU shutout the Golden Rams through the first period.
- WCU's Linday Monigle ended the scoring drought at the 14:01 mark of the second quarter, as Mitarotonda responded with her second goal with an assist from Fitzpatrick.
- After Hannah Stanislawczyk cut the deficit to two, the Warriors closed the first half with a 5-1 run including five consecutive goals, as the Warriors entered the second half with a five-goal lead at 8-3. Fitzpatrick posted a pair of goals during the run, while LeDuc, Conklin and Neufeld also found the back of the cage.
- It was ESU that seized momentum to begin the third quarter, with Fitzpatrick scoring two additional goals in the first four-plus minutes. Mitarotonda added her third and final score at the 7:24 mark to extend ESU's lead to a game-high eight goals at 11-3.
- WCU scored six of the next seven, slicing the lead to just three at 12-9 with 7:57 left. The Warriors buckled down defensively and did not allow a goal the rest of the way, as Neufeld supplied insurance by burying a shot in the cage off a pass from LeDuc with 4:13 to go to wrap up the scoring.
- Time would run out as ESU earned its second consecutive win against its rival to improve to 2-0 in conference action.
Up Next
- ESU if off of game action until Saturday, when the Warriors battle Shepherd in West Virginia. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Shepherdstown.
