EAST STROUDSBURG – After trailing 5-0 early in the second quarter, the No. 13/8 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team rallied to cut its deficit to a single goal at halftime but could not get within a single score in the second half, falling to No. 1/1 West Chester University 11-9 on Wednesday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
The Warriors (11-3, 7-2 PSAC East) saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with the loss, while the Golden Rams (14-0, 9-0 PSAC East) remained undefeated despite their closest decision to date this season.
Emily Mitarotonda paced the offense with three goals, scooping a team-best seven draw controls and earning a pair of ground balls while causing two turnovers.
Notables
- With the hat-trick performance, Mitarotonda is now just a single goal from tying ESU's career goals record of 289. Just a junior, she looks to break Kristin Restivo's record (1997-2000) on Saturday against Shippensburg.
- Joining Mitarotonda with multiple points were Hannah Schiemer (1G, 1A) and Kiki Fitzpatrick (2G). Fitzpatrick registered five draw controls.
- Also finding the back of the cage were Sophia Graffeo, Mary Fitzsimmons, and Hannah Campbell. Lauren Hallman continued an assist.
- In the cage, GK Riley DiFiore (L, 11-3) kept the Warriors in the contest with an impressive 12 saves. WCU GK Jessica Gorr posted five saves in the win.
- Keri Barnett (4G) and Hannah Stanislawczyk (4G) paced WCU, while Meg O'Donnell (1G, 1A) and Julia Littlewood (2G) also produced multiple points.
How It Happened
- West Chester started strong, building a 4-0 lead after goals from Barnett, O'Brien, Barnett again, and Stanislawczyk sprinkled throughout the first 15 minutes.
- Just over a minute into the second quarter, Littlewood extended the edge to five goals. With 9:20 to go in the second, Fitzpatrick was able to put a tally on the scoreboard with a free position goal, giving the Warriors momentum. Fitzpatrick followed up less than two minutes later with her second free-position goal, making it a three-goal contest.
- Mitarotonda followed with 6:43 to go until halftime for her first goal of the game, taking advantage of a free position attempt to make it a two-goal contest. WCU ended the mini-run with another free-position goal, with Stanislawczyk finding the back of the cage to extend the lead back to three with less than five minutes left in the opening half.
- Fitzsimmons recorded her second goal of the season with 24 ticks left on the clock to make it a 6-4 game. Not satisfied, Fitzpatrick was able to win the ensuing draw, while Mitarotonda was fouled to set up a late free-position attempt. Mitarotonda posted her second goal to make it a one-goal game at halftime.
- After the intermission, WCU would not let the Warriors tie the game, scoring a pair of goals in the first three minutes of play to lengthen the advantage to three at 8-5. Graffeo deposited a pass from Hallman to bring it back to 8-6, but WCU would extend its edge to 9-6 to close the third.
- After WCU took a 10-6 lead, the Warriors were able to get back into the game by scoring two of the next three to make it a two-goal game with 2:47 to play. WCU won the ensuing draw control, but the Warriors forced a clutch turnover. ESU moved possession down the field, but a turnover ended ESU's chances as the Golden Rams escaped Whitenight Field with the 11-9 win.
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