EAST STROUDSBURG – With her second of five goals on the day to lead No. 13/8 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team to a 17-8 win over Shippensburg,
Emily Mitarotonda became ESU's all-time career goals holder to highlight senior day at Whitenight Field on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Warriors (12-3, 8-2 PSAC East) get back to their winning ways after a tough loss to West Chester earlier this week. The Raiders (2-14) fall after a close win against Shepherd on Tuesday.
Mitarotonda surpasses Kristin Restivo (1997-00)'s 189 career goals set 23 years ago and now has 193 with five goals against the Raiders. She has played in just 53 games during her collegiate career, as the Garden State native looks to do damage to the record with a pair of regular season games remaining during her junior season. Mitarotonda totaled eight points, adding three assists. She caused a pair of turnovers, and scooped six ground balls and two draw controls.
Gallery: (4-22-2023) ESU Lacrosse Senior Day
Notables
- Prior to the game, the East Stroudsburg University Department of Athletics honored the Warriors' five seniors and acknowledged its four graduate students, who were playing in their final regular season contest at Whitenight Field. The group has led ESU to unprecedented success, going to back-to-back NCAA Semifinals and an NCAA Championship the last two seasons, after beginning their collegiate careers navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior nominees include: Elaina Ohlson, Lauren Neufeld, Allie Sweeney, Maggie Sell, and Hannah Campbell. ESU's four graduate students include: Chelsea Allie, Madison Bagatta, Kiki Fitzpatirck and goalkeeper Riley DiFiore
- Joining Mitarotonda with three-plus points was, Kiki Fitzpatrick tallied three points on a goal and two assists. Neufeld, Madison Bagatta and Lauren Hallman all found the back of the net twice. Mary Fitzsimmons posted two points with a goal and an assist.
- Ohlson, Campbell, Sophia Graffeo and Hannah Schiemer also scored a goal on the day.
- Bagatta, Sell and DiFiore were vacuums with four ground balls each.
- In the cage, DiFiore was a brick wall, making an impressive 16 saves.
- The Warriors led 34-32 in shots, 29-24 on shots on goal, 16-12 in saves, 30-21 on ground balls, 10-6 on free-position shots and had five less turnovers (20-15). Shippensburg led 19-10 on draw controls.
- Ali Pioli led the Raiders with five points on three goals and two assists. Emily Fenwick totaled two goals, while Sara Vosburg also posted multiple points with a goal and an assist. GK Kayla Vosburg made 12 saves on the day in the cage.
How It Happened
- Mitarotonda scored ESU's first goal, opening the scoring with 7:34 left in the first quarter. The Raiders quickly countered with two goals within two-and-a-half minutes.
- Mitarotonda's record-breaking goal came next to tie the contest at 2-2 with 4:26 left in the opening quarter. ESU closed the period strong with Neufeld and Mitarotonda finding the back of the cage within the final 1:17, taking a 4-2 lead into the second quarter.
- Shippensburg gained momentum with back-to-back goals to knot the score at 4-4 with 8:40 to go until halftime. ESU would not allow the Raiders to retake the lead, closing the second quarter strong with four goals during the final six-plus minutes, with Mitarotonda's fourth goal, followed by Bagatta, Fitzsimmons and Fitzpatrick each producing scores.
- SU opened the scoring with a goal in the second half with a woman up goal to cut the deficit to there at 8-5, but the Warriors surged with a game-altering 4-0 run to take a 12-5 lead into the fourth. Graffeo, Hallman, Mitarotonda and Bagatta registered goals in the stretch.
- The Raiders never gave up, posting the first two goals in the fourth quarter to make it a five-goal game. Neufeld, Schiemer and Hallman extended the Warrior lead to eight at 15-7. SU ended the run with a goal with 2:31 left, as ESU scored the final two goals, with senior day honorees Ohlson and Campbell each scoring goals for the final score of 17-8.
Up Next
- ESU closes the regular season with a pair of road contests at Bloomsburg on Wednesday and Kutztown next Saturday.
- The opening draw against the Huskies is set for 2:00 p.m.
