EAST STROUDSBURG -- Trailing 7-5 entering the fourth quarter, the fourth-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team tied the contest on a pair of goals from Emily Mitarotonda midway through the period, but seventh-ranked West Chester found the back of the cage with 2:19 left for the eventual game winning goal to snap ESU's 11-game win streak on Saturday afternoon at Whitenight Field.

The Warriors (11-1, 7-1 PSAC East) suffer their first loss of the season after starting the season with 11 wins. The Golden Rams avenge their lone loss of the season (11-1, 8-1 PSAC East) and are now first-place of the PSAC East.

After ESU tied the ball game with two goals in a span of 35 seconds from Mitarotonda at the 4:50 mark, ESU suffered a pair of turnovers on their final two possessions, as WCU's Hannah Stanislawczyk registered her fourth goal and the eventual game winner on an assist from Keri Barnett.

Notables

• Gianna LeDuc led the Warriors with five points on the day, dishing assists on four of ESU's goals, while also finding the back of the cage once. The graduate student now has 34 goals and 35 assists this season for 69 points.
• Emily Mitarotonda added her seventh consecutive hat trick, scoring three goals on six shots. On the day, the Rockaway, N.J. native also caused three turnovers and scooped three ground balls and five draw controls.
• Kiki Fitzpatrick added a pair of goals, while Lauren Neufeld also scored a goal on the day.
• Maggie Sell led the way defensively with four caused turnovers. Kayleigh Pokrivka, Maddie Heck and Kristen Andreychak also tallied multiple caused turnovers.
• In the cage, McKenzie Gaghan (5-1) suffered her first career loss. The Massapequa, N.Y. native made six saves.
• WCU's Stanislawczyk and Barnett combined for nine of the Golden Rams' 12 points on the afternoon. GK Jessica Gorr took the win and made seven saves.
• The loss for the Warriors snapped its second-longest winning streak in program history and its best-ever start to a season in 2022. The loss marked the first falter at Whitenight Field since March 9, 2019 when ESU dropped a tight 11-10 matchup to nationally-ranked Pace. The Warriors had won its previous 17 games at Whitenight Field, winning its first six games in the Poconos in 2022, 2-0 in 2021, 2-0 in 2020 and its final seven games in 2019. The Warriors played seven of nine home games at Eiler-Martin Stadium due to new turf construction at Whitenight Field during the 2021 season.
• WCU held slim advantages in shots (20-16), saves (7-6), had less turnovers (22 to 25), ground balls (23-21), draw controls (11-8). Both teams put 14 shots on net, while ESU led with four free position shots to West Chester's three.

How it Happened

• West Chester registered the first goal of the game, as ESU's goalkeeper allowed the ball to drop out of her stick and into the net. Stanislawczyk is credited with the goal, having shot the ball last.
• The Warriors scored the next three goals, ending the first period with a 3-1 advantage. The three-headed monster of Mitarotonda, LeDuc and Fitzpatrick all recorded goals in the stretch/
• The second quarter belonged to West Chester, as the Golden Rams scored the first five goals of the period before ESU could answer. Stanislawczyk netted a pair, while Julia Littlewood, Lindsay Monigle and Barnett all found twine on shots.  
• The Rams held a 6-3 lead before Neufeld ended the spree with the final goal of the first half in an unassisted goal with 1:24 left in the second quarter.
• Fitzpatrick added her second goal to open the second half scoring, burying a pass from LeDuc. With WCU leading 6-5, Barnett countered with a goal to lengthen the Golden Rams advantage back to two.
• Midway through the fourth quarter, Mitarotonda registered two of her three goals in a 35 second span, tying the game. Both goals were assisted by LeDuc.
• ESU attempted to take its first lead since the opening quarter, but a pair of turnovers would cost the Warriors possession, as Stanislawczyk scored the eventual game-winner with 2:19 left.

Up Next

• ESU heads to Kutztown on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. first draw inside Keystone Field.
• The Warriors return to Whitenight Field on Saturday, April 23 against Shepherd for the annual Alyssa Oxenford Memorial Game.