EAST STROUDSBURG – Led by nine goals from
Emily Mitarotonda, the 11th-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team toppled Shepherd, 14-7, on Saturday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
With its second-straight win, the Warriors (9-4, 5-3 PSAC East) move to sole possession of third place in the PSAC East, jumping ahead of Bloomsburg. The Rams fall to 5-8, 3-6 in the PSAC East.
ESU Offensive Notables
- Mitarotonda led the Warriors once again, pouring in nine goals offensively. On defense, the senior scooped six ground balls, caused three turnovers and earned eight draw controls.
- The Rockaway, N.J. native now has 67 goals, 20 assists and 87 points on the season in just 13 games. Her 67 goals in a season is currently tied for the fourth most in program history with her sister Krista Mitarotonda (2018). Emily looks to break her previous program records of goals in a season in 2022 (89) and 2023 (79). She is also approaching another milestone, looking to become the first Warrior in program history to score 300 career goals, currently sitting at 283.
- Jolee Roth tallied three assists, while Hannah Schiemer scored two goals. Mary Fitzsimmons also tallied multiple points with a goal and an assist. Roth matched Mitarotonda's team-high with six ground balls. Mary Fitzsimmons scooped four ground balls.
- Courtney Reynolds and Sophia Graffeo added a goal each.
- Freshman Alexis Neumen registered three draw controls for the Warriors.
ESU Defensive Notables
- GK Abby Simonetti (W, 5-4) totaled double digits in saves for the third consecutive outing, with 14 stops against the Rams. She allowed just four goals in nearly 57 minutes of action in the cage. She continues to lead NCAA DII in save percentage, now with a mark of .605 on the season. She lowered her goals-against average to 8.63 on the season.
- Taylor Vara, Julianna Callison, Molly Atwell and Claire Hoffman each totaled two caused turnovers. Callison earned three ground balls.
- Jameson Kernahan scooped four ground balls, along with causing a turnover.
Shepherd Notables
- Kelsey King led the Rams with three goals in a hat-trick performance. Sydney Witmer, Holly Poe, Shanna Dextradeur and Aubrey Harrison added a tally on the scoreboard.
- Luetta Seipp caused four turnovers, while Paige Stoner totaled three CTs. Stoner added five draw controls and three ground balls.
- In the cage, Destiny Rockwell made 14 saves and allowed 14 goals.
How It Happened
- Mitarotonda opened the scoring with 11:40 remaining in the first quarter on a woman-down goal, but Shepherd evened the score with just over 30 seconds later with Poe tallying a goal.
- The contest remained quiet for the next several minutes, as ESU opened the game open with a 6-0 scoring run, with Fitzsimmons and Graffeo adding goals, as ESU took a 3-1 edge after the first quarter.
- The Warriors extended their lead to six by halftime, with Mitarotonda scoring three goals in the stretch, while Reynolds added another goal. ESU took a 6-1 lead after 30 minutes.
- Mitaortonda opened the scoring in the third frame, but SU ended the Warriors' scoring run with a pair of goals to cut the deficit to four at 7-3.
- ESU took full control with a 7-1 sprint, reaching the 10-goal timing rule at 14-4 with 6:45 remaining. Five of ESU's seven goals came off the stick of Mitarotonda.
- With three minutes to go, Shepherd started a 3-0 scoring run to end the game for the final score of 14-7.
Up Next
- The Warriors hit the road on Wednesday and Saturday, first traveling to West Chester on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at Vonnie Gros Field.
