EAST STROUDSBURG -- It was another solid game from the three-headed monster, as the fourth-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team improved to 9-0 with a convincing 20-7 victory against Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon at Whitenight Field.

The Warriors (9-0, 5-0 PSAC East) improve upon their already program-record start to a season, picking up its fifth conference win in as many games. The Raiders fall to 2-8, 0-5 in conference action.

Notables

• ESU was once again led by the offensive trio of Gianna LeDuc, Kiki Fitzpatrick and Emily Mitarotonda, who combined for 13 goals, eight assists, 21 points, 13 draw controls, four caused turnovers and four ground balls. LeDuc and Fitzpatrick each posted eight points, with LeDuc providing five goals, three assists, while Fitzpatrick registered three goals and five helpers. Fiztpatrick led the squad with seven draw controls and also caused three turnovers.
• On her birthday, Mitarotonda found the back of the net five times, with her first goal of the contest marking her 100th career collegiate point in just 25 games as a Warrior.
• Sophia Graffeo added a hat-trick on five total shots, while Madison Bagatta (1 goal, 1 assist), McKenna Conklin, Maddie Heck and Olivia Chory all registered points.
• LeDuc (27 goals, 23 assists, 50 pts.), Fitzpatrick (28 goals, 21 assists) and Mitarotonda, (35 goals, 9 assists, 44 points) have combined for 90 goals, 53 assists and 143 points in less than 10 games this season. These three Warriors have now accounted for 65 percent of ESU's points this season.
• Kayleigh Pokrivka caused havoc once again, leading ESU with five caused turnovers, while also scooping four ground balls. Allie Sweeney led the Warriors with six GBs. She has now caused 28 turnovers in just nine games, while vacuuming up 35 ground balls.
• The Warriors once again split time with McKenzie Gaghan (W, 5-0) and Bella Gismondi in goal, as Gaghan improved to 5-0 in the victory.
• Hannah Seifried led Shippensburg with five points on four goals and an assist.
• The Warriors have earned victories in its last eight contests against Shippensburg, dating back to 2015. The Raiders last defeated ESU in 2014 and haven't earned a win at Whitenight Field since 2009. The Warriors now lead the all-time series by a 21-20 mark.

How It Happened

• Despite the score, it was Shippensburg that took the first lead. Seifried registered her first of four goals on the day at the 12:27 mark of the first quarter.
• ESU quickly responded, as within a minute, LeDuc found the back of the net for the first time to spark a 8-0 scoring sprint. Mitarotonda scored a pair in the run, which included her 100th career point. LeDuc posted three in the run, while Heck, Fitzpatrick and Graffeo all tallied one.
• SU bookended the first quarter with a goal from Gabby Savino and opened the second quarter scoring with a tally from Kasey Schuchardt.
• The momentum did not go to the Raiders for lone, as ESU took full control with 6-0 run to reach the mercy-rule timing threshold at 14-3 at the 2:43 mark in the second quarter. Mitarotonda scored three of the six, while Fitzpatrick, Graffeo and Chory all added a goal.
• With ESU leading by 11 at the half, the Warriors outscored the Raiders, 6-3, in the second half, and ultimately earned a 20-7 win over Shippensburg.

Up Next

• The Warriors hit the road for a pair of contests next week, first heading to Bloomsburg on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
• ESU will then travel to Millersville on Sat., April 9 (1:00 p.m.) before returning to Whitenight Field on Sat., April 16 against nationally-ranked West Chester.