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ALL-PSAC 2022

Mitarotonda, Pokrivka Highlight Five Warriors on All-PSAC Teams

Mitarotonda is named PSAC East Athlete of the Year, while Pokrivka Takes home PSAC East Defender of the Year accolades

5/2/2022 12:00:00 PM

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- After leading the sixth-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse to a 15-1 record and a bye in the PSAC Quarterfinal round, the PSAC announced on Monday afternoon that Emily Mitarotonda has been named to the PSAC East Athlete of the Year, while Kayleigh Pokrivka has been tabbed the PSAC East Defender of the Year to highlight five ESU all-conference selections.

Joining Mitarotonda and Pokrivka on the PSAC East First Team were Gianna LeDuc and Kiki Fitzpatrick. Defender Maggie Sell was recognized on the PSAC East Second Team. 

Emily Mitarotonda

Mitarotonda becomes ESU’s third-ever selection for PSAC East Athlete of the Year and first since 2017, joining Emma Rufolo (2017), Molly O’Hara (2010) and Kristin Restivo (2000). She led the Warriors and the PSAC with 63 goals on the season, averaging five points per game, which ranked sixth in the conference. 

No slouch defensively, Mitarotonda ranked third on the Warriors in caused turnovers (25), third in ground balls (39) and led ESU with 79 draw controls. She tallied at least two points in every contest, posting five-plus points in over half of ESU’s games. Against PSAC East foes, the Rockaway, N.J. native has recorded at least three goals in all 12 contests. Her season-high point output came at Shepherd, scoring seven goals and added an assist. 

Mitarotonda’s 63 goals this season currently ranks as the third most in a season among Warriors, trailing just her sister, Krista (67, 2018) and Kristin Restivo (72, 2000). Her 80 points in 2022 this season trail just Lauren Nunes (96, 2016), Kristin Restivo (87, 2000), Gianna LeDuc (84, 2022), Kiki Fitzpatrick (83, 2022) and Hana Cicerelle (81, 2019). She has now earned All-PSAC East First Team in each of her two seasons in the Poconos, earning freshman of the year accolades. 

Pokrivka becomes the first Warrior in program history to earn PSAC East Defender of the Year and is just the second ESU lacrosse player to be named to the All-PSAC First Team three times (2018, 2021-22) joining former teammate Tatyana Petteway on the exclusive list.

 The national leader in caused turnovers per game this season, she has recorded an even 50 CTs in 16 games this season. The York native also ranks in the top-10 in NCAA Division II this season in ground balls. Among all active NCAA women’s lacrosse players across all divisions, Pokrivka’s 160 career caused turnovers ranks second. 

Her illustrious season has featured three PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors, along with taking IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week honors after causing seven turnovers and scooping four ground balls against Pace. Pokrivka tallied a career-best eight caused turnovers against Shepherd.

LeDuc is selected to the All-PSAC East First Team for the second consecutive campaign leading the Warrior offense with 84 points on an even 42 goals and 42 assists through 16 games this season. Her 42 helpers in a single season at ESU ranks second to just Lauren Nunes 61 mark in 2016, while her 84 points currently sit in third-place in a single season behind Kirstin Restivo’s 87 (2000) and Nunes’ mark of 96 in 2016. Her 78 career assists are tied for the third most with Antonia Giannopolous, who posted 78 from 2001-03.

The native of Westtown, N.Y. has tallied multiple points in every game this season, including two-point eight point outbursts against Georgian Court, Shippensburg along with a Warrior-best nine-point affair against Bloomsburg. In 10 of 16 games this year, LeDuc has posted at least five points.  

Fitzpatrick exploded on the scene this season, ranking second on the Warriors in goals (48), assists (35) and points (83), completing the Warriors’ three-headed monster offense. She has found the back of cage every game this season, posting a season-best output of eight points against IUP (6 goals, 2 assists) and Shippensburg (3 goals, 5 assists).

A native of Sayville, N.Y., Fitzpatrick was named the IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week after posting a combined 13 points and 10 draw controls against PSAC East foes Kutztown and Shippensburg.

Her 83 points this season ranks just behind LeDuc's 84 for fourth-best in a single season. Defensively, Fitzpatrick caused 14 turnovers and vacuumed 24 ground balls and has earned 66 draw controls 

Sell garners All-PSAC honors for the first time in her career after being named to the all-conference second team in 2022. She was a very important factor in ESU’s top-10 defense in terms of goals allowed average, ranking second among Warriors with 28 caused turnovers and 40 ground balls. 

She was named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week after causing five turnovers and scooping five ground balls against IUP. With Sell’s help, ESU ranks second nationally in caused turnovers per game (13.73), first in ground balls per game (24), sixth in scoring defense (6.20) and seventh in scoring margin (9.40). 

Sell has started in all 37 games she has appeared in during her collegiate career.   

The Warriors open the postseason on Fri., May 6 against the winner of the PSAC West Quarterfinal round matchup between No. 2 Mercyhurst and No. 3 IUP on inside Seton Hill’s Dick Sporting Goods Stadium.