EAST STROUDSBURG -- Paced by a combined 20 points from Emily Mitarotonda (7 goals 1 assist), Gianna LeDuc (4 goals, three assists) and Kiki Fitzpatrick (2 goals, three assists) the No. 8 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team earned its seventh consecutive victory to start 2022 with an 18-7 road win against Shepherd at Ram Stadium.

The Warriors (7-0, 3-0 PSAC East) remain undefeated and are now off to its best start in program history. The Rams drop to 3-4, 1-2 in conference action.

After taking a 7-2 lead after the first quarter, Shepherd outscored the Warriors 3-1 in the second frame, as ESU led by three at 8-5 following halftime. The Warriors settled down after halftime and outscored Shepherd 10-2 over the final 30 minutes in the 18-7 win.

Notables

• Mitarotonda's seven goals breaks her previous career-best mark of six goals, which she recorded twice during her freshman season and reached the six-goal mark against Millersville this season. She joins her sister Krista Mitarotonda (2019, 2020), Kaitlyn Wiltraut (2014, 2015), Grace Gunkel (2012) and Renne Maniscalco (2008) as Warriors to score seven-plus goals in a game since 2004. Emily's eight points in a single game is also a new career-best. Defensively, Mitarotonda added four ground balls, five draw controls and caused two turnovers.
• Gianna Leduc posted seven points, scoring four goals and distributed three assists. Kiki Fitzpatrick added two goals and three assists for five points, while Hannah Campbell added two fourth quarter goals.
• Other Warriors that registered points included Elaina Ohlson (2 assists), Madison Bagatta (1 goal), Lauren Neufeld (1 goal), Sophia Graffeo (1 goal).
• Reigning IWLCA and PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week Kayleigh Pokrivka totaled four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Maddie Heck also registered multiple caused turnovers.
• On the draw, Bagatta led the game with seven draw controls.  
• In the cage, McKenzie Gaghan started and played the first half, recording four saves while allowing five goals. Bella Gismondi (W, 4-0) played the entire second half, allowing two goals and making four stops in the win.
• The Warriors led in shots (39-22), shots on goal (33-15), draw controls (17-11), free position shots (8-1) and had less turnovers (15-8). ESU successfully cleared possession to its offensive zone on 18 of 21 attempts.
• SU has led in scoring by Kaiya Edwards and Katherine Campbell, who both netted two goals each. Hailey Bennett made 15 saves against the Warriors.
• ESU's previous best start to a season was 6-0 in 2014, earning wins against Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut State, Mercy, Georgian Court, Catawba and Kutztown before falling to Millersville to start the campaign. ESU had started the season 5-0 on four occasions, most recently in 2017.
• ESU's seven-game winning streak is currently tied for third all-time in program history. The Warriors put together a program-record 12-game undefeated stretch in 2017.
• Mitarotonda now leads the Warriors with 25 goals with Fitzpatrick (23 goals) and LeDuc (19 goals) close behind. Fitzpatrick and LeDuc each have 35 points to lead the squad, while Mitartonda has posted 33 to date.
• In the all-time series, ESU now leads SU, 3-0.

• The Warriors came out of the gate hot, scoring six goals in just over five minutes of clock to begin the game. Mitarotonda registered a hat trick in less than five minutes of play, while LeDuc (2 goals) and Bagatta added scores during the scoring run.
• Shepherd did not concede, stealing momentum by closing the first half by scoring five the final seven goals in the opening half. Once leading by six goals in the first half, the ESU lead was cut in half to just three at halftime.
• ESU did not allow the Rams to get any closer, as the Warriors scored three unanswered goals to build back its six-goal advantage at 11-5. Gismondi allowed her first goal at the 7:21 mark of the third quarter, but ultimately the Warriors prevented any chance at an SU comeback by closing the game on a 7-1 sprint. Mitarotonda scored her seventh goal in the contest on a woman-up opportunity with 9:08 remaining, for her 25th goal of the season.

Up Next

• ESU returns to Whitenight Field on Wednesday, March 30 against Kutztown. The opening draw is set for 3:00 p.m. against the Golden Bears.