SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. – Leading 5-4 with 8:12 remaining in the second quarter, the No. 9/12 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team held Shepherd scoreless for the next 37-plus minutes, recording 10 of the final 11 goals to down Shepherd, 15-4, on Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium.
The Warriors (11-2, 7-2 PSAC East) pick up their sixth consecutive victory entering its matchup next week with No. 1/1 West Chester. The Rams (5-9, 1-8 PSAC East) drop its fifth consecutive contest.
Six different Warriors recorded multiple points, with
Kiki Fitzpatrick's four (3G, 1A) leading the way.
Emily Mitarotonda (2G, 1A),
Campbell Heller (3G),
Madison Bagatta (2G, 1A),
Lauren Hallman (2G), and
Hannah Schiemer (2G) all recorded at least two goals.
Jolee Roth also contributed a goal, while
Elaina Ohlson distributed an assist.
Notables
- ESU outshot SU, 29-19, including 24-11 on shots on goal. ESU had fewer turnovers and collected more ground balls (22-19) and draw controls (17-7).
- Along with three points on offense, Mitarotonda posted a strong performance defensively, causing four turnovers, while scooping four ground balls and seven draw controls without tallying a turnover. She now leads the Warriors in ground balls this season (46) and ranks second to Maggie Sell's 28 caused turnovers with 25.
- Mitarotonda inched closer to becoming ESU's all-time career goals leader, now with 185 during her storied Warrior career. Just a junior, she stands just five goals away from breaking Kristin Restivo's 189 goal-record set in 2000. In 13 games this season, she has totaled 48 goals, 11 assists for 59 points.
- Fitzpatrick earned five draw controls along with her team-leading four-point performance.
- Claire Hoffman matched Mitarotonda's four ground balls and also caused a turnover.
- GK Riley DiFiore contributed another strong performance in the cage with six saves and five goals allowed in a complete 60 minutes. The Steel City native helped shut out the Rams for 37:12 of game clock.
How it Happened
- The Rams took the first lead with a goal less than two minutes into the game. Mitarotonda answered at the 9:21 mark on the scoreboard, with Hallman, Heller, and Mitarotonda finding the back of the cage to build a 4-1 lead. Shepherd ended the run with a minute left in the first quarter, as ESU led 4-2 after 15 minutes.
- Schiemer opened the second quarter scoring to extend the Warrior lead to 5-2, but SU scored the next two, slicing the deficit to just a single goal at 5-4 with 8:12 to go until halftime. ESU answered within 46 seconds and never looked back, scoring 10 consecutive goals to build an 11-goal lead at 15-4 with 3:50 remaining.
- The Rams ended the scoring drought with 59 seconds left but ran out of time. The Warriors earned their sixth consecutive win with the 15-5 triumph in West Virginia.
Up Next
- The Warriors get ready for a big matchup at Whitenight Field against No. 1/1 West Chester on Wednesday afternoon.
- The Hidden Opponent game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
