EAST STROUDSBURG – Led by a combined 12 points from freshman
Paige Moreland and
Sophia Graffeo and 15 saves across three goalkeepers, the No. 9 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team opened the season with a dominant 17-3 victory over Jefferson on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
The Warriors (1-0) open the season with a win for the sixth consecutive season. The Rams (0-3) fall to its third consecutive PSAC East foe to open 2024.
Notables
- In her collegiate debut, Moreland recorded two goals and five assists for game-high seven points. The Rockford, Michigan native recorded four of her five assists on goals from junior Sophia Graffeo.
- Graffeo paced ESU with five goals on the day, matching her career-high she set at Bloomsburg during her freshman season in 2022.
- Emily Mitarotonda registered a hat trick with three goals. She also caused three turnovers, scooped three ground balls and earned four draw controls. The Rockaway, N.J. native, who set the program goals record as a junior, is just three points away from becoming ESU's all-time points leader. She currently has 219 goals and 49 assists for 268 points.
- Mary Fitzsimmons also registered three points with a goal and two assists.
- Reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year Hannah Schiemer and Campbell Heller each posted two goals.
- Jolee Roth (1G, 1A) and Julianna Callison also found the back of the cage.
- Jameson Kernaghan was a vacuum, scooping five ground balls, along with a draw control. She also caused a pair of turnovers.
- Freshman Alexis Neumen tied for the team lead with four draw controls.
- In the cage, the trio of Rachael Zabko (W, 1-0), Abby Simonetti and Bella Gismondi combined for 15 saves. Zabko made eight saves, while allowing one goal in the first half. Simonetti made five saves without allowing a goal in the third quarter. Bella Gismondi closed the game, making two saves while allowing a pair of goals.
How It Happened
- The Warriors opened the game with six unanswered goals in the first quarter, with Heller and Schiemer each recording two, while Graffeo and Moreland each found the back of the cage in the opening 15 minutes.
- After Jefferson opened the second quarter with its first goal of the game by Lynn Hardy, The Warriors rattled off a 8-0 scoring spree to put the game past the 10-goal mercy-rule time threshold. Graffeo scored three goals during the stretch that lasted from the second quarter through the end of the third period, while Mitarotonda added two goals. Roth, Fitzsimmons and Moreland each tallied a goal.
- Holding a 14-1 lead after three quarters, ESU cruised to a 17-3 win. Mitarotonda, Graffeo and Callison wrapped up the scoring for the Warriors.
Up Next
- No. 9 ESU (1-0) returns to Whitenight Field on Tuesday at noon against Roberts Wesleyan (1-3).
