LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Tied at 1-1 at the halftime intermission, Carina Gasparini struck for the eventual game-winning goal during the 63rd minute of action as the East Stroudsburg University women's soccer team defeated Lock Haven, 2-1, on Wednesday evening inside Hubert Jack Stadium.

With the win, the Warriors (5-0-1, 3-0-1) remain unbeaten and remain tied with Kutztown for second place in the PSAC East, while the Bald Eagles fall to 3-2-1 and 1-2-1 in the conference slate.

Rebecca Kotula continued her strong start to her junior season, with the opening goal of the game in the 33rd minute and added an assist on Gasparini's game-winner.

LHU's Evelyn Ciacci was able to find the back of the net on an assist from Avery Landrum to tie the contest in the first half.

Notables

• Kotula has now registered at least one goal in four of six games on the season, including two straight against PSAC foe Shepherd and Lock Haven. The Wyomissing, Pa. native now has four goals and four assists for 12 points, which leads the entire PSAC by five points at the time of writing.
• Gasparini's game-winner was the first as a Warrior after a stellar three seasons at Sussex County Community College, where she totaled 23 goals and 34 assists for 80 points as an NJCAA All-American and NJCAA DII Region XIX Player of the Year.
• In total, ESU led LHU in shots (12-9) and shots on goal (5-4). Both squads made three saves each, while the Warriors held a significant advantage in corner kicks (9-3).
• In her first collegiate action, freshman Alizee Pertus (1-0) played the first 83 minutes of the contest and made two saves. Classmate Emmy Clarkson close the final 7:26 of action and did not have to make a save. LHU GK Megan Miller made three saves for the Bald Eagles.  

How It Happened

• 34' | Off a free kick near midfield just shy of the box, Kotula was able to rip a shot pas a wall of Bald Eagles. The LHU goalkeeper was able to put her gloves on the shot, but ball deflected in the back of the goal.  
• 44' |Around 10 minutes later, Lock Haven tied the contest at 1-1. As the first half winded down, LHU quickly rushed the ball towards its offensive zone. Landrum and Ciacci traded passes, as Landrum setup Ciacci with space, firing a shot to the lower right-hand corner to beat a diving Pertus.
• 62' | Following an LHU foul, Brien Seaman rocketed a beautiful pass from Mirthe Bos towards the offensive end. With the LHU goalkeeper looking to stop a shot on net, Kotula was able to sneak the ball past the keeper, as Gasparini was in perfect position to deposit a goal into the open net with a defender closing in.

Up Next

• ESU now heads to Shippensburg on Saturday. Game time at David See Stadium between the Warriors and Raiders (0-3-2) is set for 2:00 p.m.