KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Despite a remarkable performance from East Stroudsburg University lacrosse midfielder
Emily Mitarotonda, Kutztown scored the final three goals with under six minutes remaining to defeat the Warriors, 16-14, on Saturday afternoon at Keystone Field.
No. 13/8 ESU (13-4, 9-3 PSAC East) closes the regular season at the No. 3 seed in the PSAC East, with the Golden Bears (12-4, 9-3 PSAC East) earning the second seed, due to the head-to-head goal differential tiebreaker. Kutztown will host ESU in the PSAC Quarterfinal round on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. The winner will head to West Chester for the PSAC Semifinal round on Friday.
Notables
- Emily Mitarotonda was a force both offensively and defensively, matching her career-high with seven goals. She posted 11 draw controls and three caused turnovers, while also scooping a ground ball. ESU's all-time goals leader became the first Warrior to reach 200 career goals, and now has 203 goals in just 55 games. Through the regular season, the Garden State native now has 66 goals, 14 assists for 80 points.
- Madison Bagatta recorded three points on two goals and an assist, posting a pair of ground balls and draw controls.
- Five Warriors scored a single goal, which include: Sophia Graffeo, Hannah Schiemer, Olivia Wenrich, Lauren Hallman and Jolee Roth. Roth added an assist, while Kiki Fitzpatrick also distributed a helper.
- In the cage, GK Riley DiFiore posted 10 saves, marking the fourth consecutive game of reaching double digits.
- Kutztown led in shots (32-28), shots on goal (26-20), ground balls (20-15) and had four less turnovers than ESU. The Warriors held advantages in saves (10-8) and draw controls (18-14).
- ESU's loss against Kutztown snapped an 11-game winning streak against the Golden Bears, with KU last earning a win during the 2013 season at Keystone Field.
How it Happened
- KU opened the game with a pair of goals, with its first coming on a free-position less than a minute into the contest. During the fifth minute of play, the Warriors were able knot the score with goals from Mitarotonda and Graffeo.
- Shannon Lake lifted KU back to a lead, but Schiemer and Mitarotonda put the Warriors back on top with 4:53 to go. The Golden Bears evened the game with 34 seconds to go in the opening period, but Mitarotonda posted a first period hat trick with a free-position goal with time expiring.
- Both teams traded goals to start the second quarter, before Mitarotonda sparked a four goal run. Mitarotonda scored twice during the run, while Bagatta and Hallman added goals.
- KU gained momentum as the first half ended, scoring three consecutive goals during the final four minutes, as the Warriors led 10-8 after 30 minutes.
- After halftime, the Golden Bears kept momentum, as its three-goal run extended to eight, as KU took a 13-10 edge with less than three minutes remaining in the quarter. Mitarotonda added her sixth and seventh goals during the final two-plus minutes, as the Warriors trailed the Golden Bears by a score of 13-12 with one quarter to go.
- ESU's run was lengthened to 4-0 to start the fourth with goals from Roth and Wenrich, with ESU now holding a 14-13 lead.
- Unfortunately for the Warriors, the Golden Bears scored the final three goals, tying the contest with 5:54 remaining, taking the lead less than a minute later via a free position goal, and picked up the tiebreaker with the final goal of the contest with 43 seconds to go.
Up Next
- No. 3 seed ESU will clash again with No. 2 seed Kutztown on Tuesday in the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinal. The opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m. at Whitenight Field. The winner heads to PSAC Semifinal and Championship host West Chester on Friday.
