WEST CHESTER, Pa. – On a warm Mother's Day in Southeastern Pennsylvania, the No. 17 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team was able to grab a 6-5 lead in the second half, but No. 1 West Chester scored four consecutive goals on its way to a 10-8 win in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship on Sunday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
With the loss, the impressive Warriors' (14-6) season comes to an end in its fifth consecutive regional title appearance. The Golden Rams (21-0) remain undefeated and advance to the NCAA Semifinals in Indianapolis next week.
East Stroudsburg graduate student goalkeeper
Riley DiFiore played tremendously, keeping ESU in the contest with a season-high 18 saves, including eight in the opening 15 minutes. Her 18 saves are the most by a Warrior in seven seasons, since 2017, when Tatyana Petteway made 22 saves against her now employer Mercyhurst on April 15, 2017.
Gallery: (5-14-2023) NCAA DII Atlantic Region Championship
Notables
- USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America First Team selection Emily Mitarotonda led the Warriors with three points on two goals and an assist, scooping a team-highs of five ground balls and eight draw controls.
- Kiki Fitzpatrick also contributed three points with two assists, along with a goal.
- Madison Bagatta added two goals, while Hannah Schiemer, Campbell Heller, and Lauren Hallman all added a tally on the scoreboard.
- DiFiore's 18 saves matches her career-high, which was initially set when playing at York College against Messiah on April 10, 2021.
- If Sunday's matchup is her final game of her collegiate career, she closes her impressive collegiate career at York and ESU with a combined 440 saves
- Mitarotonda closes her junior season with team-highs of 79 goals, 94 points, 26 free-position goals, 73 ground balls, 43 caused turnovers and 101 draw controls. Only a junior, she set ESU's all-time goals record in the regular season finale, now with 216 goals in 58 career games. She has totaled 265 points, entering her senior season just six points away from surpassing former teammate turned volunteer assistant coach Hana Cicerelle's 270 career points set in 2021.
- The Warriors have reached the regional final in each of the past five seasons, with ESU earning regional titles in 2018, 2021 and 2022 against the Golden Rams. The home team in the regional title matchups hold a record of 4-1, with ESU earning the lone road win in 2018 the past five seasons.
How It Happened
- The Golden Rams opened the game with a couple of early goals by Taylor O'Brien and Lindsay Mongla during the opening minutes. Mitarotonda was able to start a three-goal run with 5:49 left in the opening quarter, as Bagatta tied the contest at 2-2 with 2:13 left.
- Heller lifted ESU to its first lead, less than 40 seconds into the second period on a free-position goal. Hannah Stanislawczyk ended the Warrior run to knot the score at 3-3 with 13:05 left.
- PSAC East Freshman of the Year Hannah Schiemer found the back of the cage next, lifting the Warriors back to a lead. WCU scored back-to-back scores to grab a 5-4 edge. Bagatta added her second tally and the final of the first half, as both rivals were tied at 5-5 after 30 minutes of action.
- The third period featured just three goals, as freshman Lauren Hallman deposited a pass from Fitzpatrick for ESU's sixth goal, giving the Warriors a second-half lead over No. 1 West Chester. WCU knotted the score at 6-6 and took a 7-6 lead after back-to-back goals from Stanislawczyk.
- Holding a 7-6 edge with 15 minutes remaining, WCU increased its lead to three at 9-6 with a pair of goals within the first three minutes of the period. ESU was able to make it a two-goal game with 8:43 remaining, with Fitzpatrick burying a pass from Mitarotonda.
- With the quarter and game winding down, WCU extended its lead to three with 3:25 left, with Stanislawczyk's fifth goal of the contest. Mitarotonda scored with 93 seconds remaining to bring it back to a two-goal game, but WCU was able to wind down the clock to earn its trip to Indianapolis.
Up Next
- ESU wraps up its 2023 season with 14-6 record, with three losses to undefeated and No. 1 team in the country in West Chester, a loss to No. 2 Pace and a pair of losses to NCAA Tournament team No. 23 Kutztown.
- No. 1 West Chester, No. 2 Pace, No. 6 Florida Southern and No. 14 Grand Valley State advance to the NCAA Semifinals, hosted by the University of Indianapolis next week.
