WEST CHESTER, Pa. – In a chippy contest featuring rival teams that played each other three times over the course of 14 days, the three-seeded East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team eliminated two-seeded Kutztown by a score of 11-7 in an NCAA First Round matchup on Thursday afternoon. The Warriors advance to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship game for the sixth constructive season in the win.
The Warriors (13-6) will now face top-seed West Chester (20-0) on Saturday at noon at Vonnie Gros Field with a trip to the NCAA Semifinals on the line. The Golden Bears (15-6) see their season end in the NCAA First Round for the second consecutive year, both times at the hands of ESU.
USA Lacrosse All-America First Team selection and PSAC East Athlete of the Year Emily Mitarotonda led the Warriors with five goals and an assist for six points, breaking her own ESU single-season record for points and goals in the process.
Notables:
- Along with her six points on five goals and an assist, Mitarotonda totaled eight draw controls, two caused turnovers, and also scooped a ground ball.
- Hannah Schiemer totaled two goals and three ground balls. Lauren Hallman added a pair of scores, while Julianna Callison also buried a shot into the net.
- Jolee Roth also scored a goal, while Courtney Reynolds and Sophia Graffeo added an assist.
- IWLCA All-Region First Team goalkeeper Abby Simonetti made an impressive 18 saves, allowing just seven goals in another standout performance. The nation's current leader in save percentage posted a .720 clip against the Golden Bears.
- While the Golden Bears outshot the Warriors by one, ESU was more accurate, putting 27 shots on goal. The Warriors had two fewer turnovers (12-11) and were successful on all 21 clear attempts, while also leading the game in saves (18-16), ground balls (21-17), and draw controls (14-8).
- The chippy contest featured 43 fouls, with Kutztown charged with 34 compared to nine for the Warriors. There were 23 cards issued, with KU charged with nine yellow cards out of the 10 total and seven of the 13 green cards assessed. ESU took advantage with four woman-up goals.
How It Happened:
- Kutztown opened the scoring, but the Warriors took the lead with back-to-back goals by Schiemer and Callison. The two teams traded goals to end the opening quarter, with ESU leading 3-2 after 15 minutes.
- KU opened the scoring in the second quarter, but the Warriors took control with a 5-1 sprint to close the first half and open the second, doubling up the Golden Bears at 8-4.
- The Warriors grabbed a 10-5 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Golden Bears scored back-to-back goals to cut the deficit to 10-7 with 9:28 remaining. ESU shut down the Golden Bear offense from that point forward, with Hallman adding an insurance goal with 5:45 remaining for the final goal of the game in the 11-7 decision.
Records Shattered:
- Mitarotonda now holds the top three single-season goal performances in program history, with 2024's 91 goals sitting at the top. She set the single-season record with 89 goals in 2022 and posted 79 goals last season.
- In points, Mitarotonda now has a program record 116 in 2024. She previously posted 111 during the 2022 national championship appearance run.
- Mitarotonda, the PSAC's all-time leader in goals, is now four goals shy of second all-time in NCAA Division II, with 307 career goals. The Rockaway, N.J. native is chasing Mercy's Hunter Isnardi, who totaled 310 goals from 2016 to 2019.
They Meet Again: The Warriors and Golden Rams will now meet for the sixth consecutive season in the regional final. ESU earned regional titles in 2018, 2021, and 2022, while WCU took home the regional trophy in 2019 and most recently in 2023.
Up Next: ESU prepares for a tough opponent in the undefeated Golden Rams on Saturday at noon. The Warriors will look to hand West Chester its first loss of the season for the second time in four seasons at the NCAA Division II Championship, after defeating WCU 13-9 at Eiler-Martin Stadium in the 2021 Atlantic Region Championship matchup.
NCAA DII All-Time Goals Leaders (as of 5/16/24):
1. Sydney Tiemann, 318 goals (Maryville, McKendree) 2021-present
2. Hunter Isnardi, 310 goals (Mercy) 2016-19
3. Emily Mitarotonda, 307 goals (East Stroudsburg) 2021-present
T-4. Hannan Stanislawczyk, 299 goals (West Chester) 2021-present
T-4. Katelyn Martin, 299 goals (West Chester) 2003-06
6. Arden Kassaleh, 295 goals (Caldwell) 2017-21
7. Alexandria Quast, 288 goals (Tiffin) 2010-13
T-8. Jacqueline Jahelka, 282 goals (Adelphi) 2014-17
T-8. Emily Roussell, 282 goals (Adelphi) 2013-16
10. Katie Donavan, 275 goals (Chestnut Hill) 2006-09
ESU Single-Season Goals Record
1. Emily Mitarotonda, 91 goals, 2024
2.
Emily Mitarotonda, 89 goals, 2022
3.
Emily Mitarotonda, 79 goals, 2023
4. Kristin Restivo, 72 goals, 2000
5. Krista Mitarotonda, 67 goals, 2018
ESU Single-Season Points Record
1. Emily Mitarotonda, 116, 2024
2.
Emily Mitarotonda, 111, 2022
3. Gianna LeDuc, 108, 2022
4.
Kiki Fitzpatrick, 103, 2022
5. Lauren Nunes, 96, 2013-16
6.
Emily Mitarotonda, 94, 2023
