KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Despite another 10-point performance from reigning USA Lacrosse National Player of the Week
Emily Mitarotonda, the No. 9/15 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team could not take down No. 15/14 Kutztown, falling to the Golden Bears, 15-13, on Wednesday afternoon at Keystone Field.
The Warriors fall to 7-4, 3-3 in the PSAC East, while the Golden Bears improve to 9-2, 5-1 in conference play with the win.
ESU cut a once four-goal Kutztown lead to one at 11-10, but the Golden Bears scored five of the final eight goals to earn a 15-13 victory.
ESU Notables
- Mitarotonda shined once again, recording seven goals and three assists for 10 points. She has now reached double-digit points in three of the four previous games. She found the back of the cage on five of her six free-position shots. The Rockaway, N.J. native caused three turnovers, scooped two ground balls, along with earning a draw control.
- On the season, Mitarotonda has now recorded 54 goals and 18 assists for 72 total points in 11 contests.
- Julianna Callison and Lauren Hallman each added a pair of goals, while Paige Moreland and Hannah Schiemer each added a goal.
- Alexis Neumen paced ESU with five draw controls, while fellow freshman Molly Atwell also scooped a pair.
- In goal, GK Abby Simonetti (4-4) made 13 saves in the contest, recording her sixth start with at least 10-plus saves. The product of Millington, Md. entered the week ranked first nationally in save percentage.
Kutztown Notables
- Shannon Lake (3G, 2A) and Lailah ElBouazzaoui (3G, 2A) both contributed five points to lead KU. Sam Graf (4G) and Lairen Lamorte (1G, 3A) each posted four points. Graf led the game with seven draw controls and tied with Summer Davis for the team-lead with three caused turnovers.
- GK Jenna Blesson registered eight saves, allowing 13 goals in the complete-game win.
How It Happened
- The Warriors initially took momentum, scoring the first two goals and three of the first overall. The Golden Bears countered, closing the first quarter and opening the second frame with a 7-2 run to grab a 9-5 lead. ESU closed the first half strong, with Callison and Mitarotonda each finding the back of the cage to cut the deficit to 9-7 at halftime. Mitarotonda scored or assisted on six of ESU's seven first-half goals.
- ESU got as close as a single goal within Kutztown after halftime at 11-10 in the third quarter, with the Golden Bears taking a 12-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
- Kutztown built a four-goal lead early in the final quarter, taking a 14-10 lead. The Golden Bears scored its final goal with 10:52 remaining, to retake a four-goal lead at 15-11.
- Moreland and Mitarotonda each scored with under four minutes to play, but ESU's comeback attempt ran out of time, falling 15-13.
Up Next
- ESU begins the second half of its PSAC East schedule on Saturday at Millersville. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m. against the Marauders.
