EAST STROUDSBURG – With the score tied at 4-4 heading late in the second quarter, the 12th-ranked East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team closed out the contest on an 11-3 run to earn a dominant 15-6 win over Bloomsburg on Wednesday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
With the win, the Warriors (11-5, 7-4 PSAC East) clinched the third and final spot in the PSAC Tournament. The Huskies (9-7, 4-7 PSAC East) fell out of postseason contention with the loss.
Notables
- Emily Mitarotonda led the way for the Warriors with four goals and an assist for five points. She also scooped four ground balls and nine draw controls. She caused two turnovers defensively.
- Freshman Julianna Callison added her second career hat trick and totaled a season-high four points.
- Also contributing four points were Paige Moreland (1G, 3A), Courtney Reynolds (2G, 2A), and Jolee Roth (2G, 2A).
- Lauren Hallman added a pair of goals, while Sophia Graffeo (1G) and Mary Fitzsimmons (1A) rounded out the Warriors that tallied points.
- Claire Hoffman led ESU with five ground balls and matched Mitarotonda's two caused turnovers.
- Alexis Neumen earned three draw controls.
- GK Abby Simonetti (W, 7-5) shined, totaling 16 saves, two short of her career best.
- The Warriors led the game in shots (35-24), shots on goal (27-22), ground balls (30-29), draw controls (14-11), and had fewer turnovers than Bloomsburg (22-19).
How It Happened
- The contest was even throughout the majority of the first half. ESU started strong with a pair of goals from Graffeo and Mitarotonda, each finding the back of the cage.
- The Huskies evened the score and tied the game at 3-3 with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter. Mitarotonda and Bloomsburg's Julia Cote exchanged goals, with the game knotted at 3-3 with 4:57 left until halftime.
- From that point on, ESU dominated, closing the first half on a 3-0 run to take a 7-4 halftime lead.
- After exiting the locker room, the Warriors and Huskies exchanged goals in the 8-5 contest.
- The Warriors put their foot on the gas, scoring seven of the final eight goals of the game to earn the 15-6 win.
Moving up in the Record Books: Emily Mitarotonda now ranks fourth all-time in NCAA DII history with 296 goals and is just four goals away from breaking the PSAC record of 299 goals by Katelyn Martin (2003-06). She now holds the top three seasons in program history in goals scored, with 2024 now second to her sophomore season of 89 goals. She becomes the first player to record multiple 100-point seasons in her career and is 10 points away from breaking her record of 111 points set in her sophomore season in 2022.
NCAA DII ALL-TIME GOALS LEADERS (as of 5/1/24)
- Sydney Tiemann, 316 goals (Maryville, McKendree) 2021-pres.
- Hunter Isnardi, 310 goals (Mercy) 2016-19
- Katelyn Martin, 299 goals (West Chester) 2003-06
- Emily Mitarotonda, 296 goals (East Stroudsburg) 2021-pres.
- Arden Kassaleh, 295 goals (Caldwell) 2017-21
- Alexandria Quast, 288 goals (Tiffin) 2010-13
- Hannan Stanislawczyk, 286 goals (West Chester) 2021-pres. T-8. Jacqueline Jahelka, 282 goals (Adelphi) 2014-17 T-8. Emily Roussell, 282 goals (Adelphi) 2013-16
- Katie Donavan, 275 goals (Chestnut Hill) 2006-09
ESU Single-Season Goals Record
- Emily Mitarotonda, 89 goals, 2022
- Emily Mitarotonda, 80 goals, 2024
- Emily Mitarotonda, 79 goals, 2023
- Kristin Restivo, 72 goals, 2000
- Krista Mitarotonda, 67 goals, 2018
ESU Single-Season Points Record
- Emily Mitarotonda, 111, 2022
- Gianna LeDuc, 108, 2022
- Kiki Fitzpatrick 103, 2022
- Emily Mitarotonda, 102, 2024
- Lauren Nunes, 363, 2013-16
- Emily Mitarotonda, 94, 2023
Up Next
- ESU closes the regular season at home on Saturday against No. 10 Kutztown at 2:00 p.m. ESU will then battle the Golden Bears on the road in the PSAC Quarterfinal Round on Tuesday.
