EAST STROUDSBURG – In a game where senior midfielder
Emily Mitarotonda shattered No. 7 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse's career points record, the Rockaway, N.J. native led or tied for the team lead in goals, assists, points, draw controls, caused turnovers and ground balls in a thrilling 12-11 win over Roberts Wesleyan on a rainy afternoon at Whitenight Field.
The win elevates the Warriors to a 2-0 record, while the RedHawks fall to 1-4, marking their fourth loss to a nationally ranked opponent.
Notables
- With her third goal of the game in the first quarter, Mitarotonda became ESU's all-time points leader with 271 career points. She surpasses former teammate Hana Cicerelle (2017-21), who recorded 270 points as a Warrior. She finished the day with six goals and two assists to match her career-high of eight points. Five of Mitarotonda's six goals came on free-position attempts. She set ESU's goals record as a junior last season and now has totaled 225 goals, 51 assists for 276 points in just 60 games in her career.
- Not only a threat offensively, Mitarotonda led the Warriors in ground balls (4) and tied for the team lead in draw controls (5) and caused turnovers.
- Paige Moreland totaled three points on two goals and an assist. She also scooped three ground balls.
- Sophia Graffeo and Jolee Roth both registered a pair of goals. Hannah Schiemer and Courtney Reynolds both found the back of the net, while Mary Fitzsimmons tallied an assist.
- Claire Hoffman scooped three ground balls, while Alexis Neumen caused three turnovers and earned five draw controls.
- In the cage, Abby Simonetti earned her first career-win at ESU. The transfer from UMBC entered the game in the second quarter and tallied 10 saves while allowing six goals over the final 39-plus minutes. Rachael Zabko posted two saves and allowed five goals in just over 20 minutes in her second career start.
- Lucy Rugaber (5G) and Emma Blumenstock (1G, 3A) paced RWU in points.
- ESU led the game in saves (12-9), ground balls (27-21) and draw controls (15-11).
How It Happened
- After Mitarotonda opened the scoring, RWU fired off two goals to take the lead.
- The Warriors regrouped, scoring three consecutive goals, with Mitarotonda scoring ESU's first four goals of the game, including her third goal, which broke Cicerelle's points record.
- RWU fired off a 3-0 scoring run, opening the second quarter with its fifth goal to retake a 5-4 lead.
- Moreland, Reynolds and Graffeo used another 3-0 surge to take a two-goal lead at 7-5. With under three minutes to play in the half, RWU tied the contest, but Mitarotonda's fifth goal of the first half lifted ESU to an 8-7 advantage at halftime.
- After the teams traded goals in the third quarter, ESU looked to build a lead, with Graffeo, Schiemer and Mitarotonda registering three consecutive goals for the Warriors. Holding a 12-7 lead, RWU scored with three seconds remaining in the third, as ESU led 12-10 after three quarters.
- The Redhawks scored twice within the first five minutes of the fourth, before both squads locked down defensively, as neither team could score over the final 9-and-a-half minutes of play.
- With 14 seconds left, RWU held possession at midfield on a woman-up opportunity, but Annie Muhall's shot in the closing seconds was saved by Simonetti, as the Warriors held on to improve to 2-0.
Up Next
- No. 7 ESU (2-0) prepares for a showdown with No. 2 Adelphi (3-0) on Saturday at Noon at Whitenight Field.
