BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- For the first-time in program history, the fourth-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team has started a season with wins in its first 10 games, as ESU throttled Bloomsburg with a convincing 18-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon at Steph Pettit Field.
The Warriors (10-0, 6-0 PSAC East) remain undefeated at the halfway point in its conference schedule. The Huskies, who defeated national-ranked Mercy in its last game and received votes in the ILWomen/IWLCA Coaches Poll drop to 7-4, 3-3 in conference action.
ESU started the game on a 7-2 run and shutout the Huskies after halftime. The Warriors closed the game on a 11-0 scoring run for the 18-2 final score. In total, ESU did not allow a Husky goal for the final 39:57 of clock.
Notables
- Gianna LeDuc once against posted a career-day, registering am ESU best nine points on four goals and five assists. Her nine points are the most for a Warrior since Krista Mitarotonda
- Kiki Fitzpatrick, who was named the IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, recorded six points on three goals and three assists and also scooped three draw controls and caused a turnover.
- Sophia Graffeo also registered six points, leading the Warriors with five goals.
- Emily Mitarotonda scored three goals, all in the first half. She added three draw controls and two ground balls.
- Lauren Neufeld, Olivia Chory and Hannah Campbell also found the back of the net on shots.
- Maddie Heck rounds out the Warrior point talliers with an assist. She also posted three caused turnovers.
- Kayleigh Pokrivka, who was named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week on Monday, continued to show her presence with three caused turnovers and five ground balls against the Huskies.
- Maggie Sell vacuumed four ground balls and caused a pair of BU turnovers.
- Madison Bagatta led ESU with six draw controls.
- ESU held advantages in shots (30-14), shots on goal (27-10), ground balls (23-18), draw controls (14-8), and free position shots (8-5) and had less turnovers (19-25). The Warriors successfully cleared possession on 21 of 25 opportunities.
- The Warriors have now defeated Bloomsburg in nine consecutive meetings dating back to 2015. Bloomsburg now leads all-time series by a mark of 31-19-1.
How it Happened
- ESU built an early 4-0 lead near the halfway point in the first quarter before Bloomsburg could respond. The Warriors then padded its lead with a 3-0 run to end the first quarter, as the Warriors held a 7-1 lead at the end of the opening frame. Graffeo posted a hat trick less than seven minutes in the game, while Fitzpatrick added a pair of goals, while Mitarotonda and LeDuc scored once in the first 15 minutes.
- Five minutes into the second half, BU scored its second and final goal. The Warriors responded with a 5-0 scoring run to close the first half, taking a 12-2 lead into the locker room. LeDuc, Fitzpatrick, Graffeo and Mitarotonda all posted first half hat tricks to account for the 12 goals.
- With the game in hand, the Warriors scored three times in both the third and fourth quarter, shutting out the Huskies for nearly the final 40 minutes of clock. ESU cruised to the 18-2 win.
Up Next
ESU begins the second half of its PSAC East schedule on Saturday, when the Warriors travel to Millersville (7-3, 3-2 PSAC East). The opening draw at Biemesderfer Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.
