EAST STROUDSBURG -- Led by Gianna LeDuc, Emily Mitarotonda and Kiki Fitzpatrick, who combined for 17 points, the fourth-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team improved to 8-0 with a 14-4 win against Kutztown on a chilly Wednesday afternoon at Whitenight Field.

The Warriors (8-0, 3-0 PSAC) improve upon their program-record best start to a season and remain unscathed in eight games and four conference matchups this season. The Golden Bears fall to 4-4, 1-3 in PSAC East action.

ESU allowed KU to score just two goals per half, shutting out the Golden Bears in the first and third quarters. The Warriors built a 14-2 lead in the final quarter, before KU tallied the final two goals of the game. Overall, ESU took control with a 9-0 scoring run from the end of the second quarter through the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Notables

• Mitarotonda, the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week, posted six points on five goals and an assist. She earned a team-best five draw controls, caused two turnovers and scooped two ground balls.
• LeDuc added a hat-trick in the goal column, and posted three assists for six points. The native of Westtown, N.Y. scooped a team-high four ground balls. She now has 17 points over her last three games.  
• Fitzpatrick added five points on two goals and three assists. The Sayville, N.Y. product scooped two ground balls and three draw controls. She also caused a turnover.
• Maddie Heck added two goals, while Madison Bagatta and Oliva Chory also found the back of the cage on shots. Bagatta earned four draw controls.
• McKenzie Gaghan (4-0) made six saves in the first half to pick up the win. Bella Gismondi closed the game in the second half, making a pair of saves and allowed two goals.  
• KU GK Jenna Blesson kept the Golden Bears in the game during the first half, finishing with 13 saves in 48:30 of work.
• ESU led 39-16 on shots, 29-12 on shots on goal, 14 (ESU) - 20 (KU) on turnovers, 30-22 on ground balls and 13-10 on draw controls. The Warriors successfully cleared possession on 16 of 19 opportunities.
• The Warriors have combined to outscore its opponents by a mark of 132-56 through eight games.
• With six points on the day, Mitarotonda now has 99 career points entering Saturday's matchup with Shippensburg.
• In eight games this season, LeDuc (22G, 20 A, 42 PTS), Fitzpatrick (25G, 16 A, 41 PTS) and Mitarotonda (30G, 9A, 39 PTS) have combined for 77 goals, 45 assists and 122 points in eight games this season. The three-headed attack have contributed 63.9 percent of ESU's 191 points this season.

How It Happened

• The Warriors scored two goals in the first quarter, scoring both within the first three minutes of action. KU settled and would not allow another goal in the opening frame, as Blesson picked up six first quarter saves to keep KU in the contest.
• Mitarotonda scored her first goal in the second quarter, while Heck followed shortly after with her seventh goal of the season. The Golden Bears scored their first goal of the game shortly after, but Mitarotonda countered with her second goal just 27 seconds later. Kutztown followed with its second goal less than a minute later, slicing the deficit to just 5-2.
• ESU closed the first half strong and sealed the game with three consecutive goals to take an 8-2 lead into the halftime intermission.
• Overall, ESU scored nine consecutive goals between the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter building a 14-2 lead and forcing mercy-rule timing with a 10-plus goal lead. The Golden Bears struck for the final two goals over the final 8:49 of play, but ESU left the field victors with a 14-4 win.

Up Next

• ESU looks to improve to 9-0 on Saturday, when the Warriors host Shippensburg.
• The Warriors and Raiders are set for a noon start at Whitenight Field.