EAST STROUDSBURG – On an action-packed Saturday at Whitenight Field that featured the 7th annual Alyssa Oxenford Memorial Game, alumnae appreciation day, and the final home game for the East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team, senior Emily Mitarotonda became the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's all-time goals leader, while junior goalkeeper Abby Simonetti registered 27 saves, as No. 12 ESU took down No. 10 Kutztown, 10-9, in an instant classic to end the regular season.

The Warriors (12-5, 8-4 PSAC East) earned the PSAC East third seed and will rematch with PSAC East two-seed Golden Bears (13-4, 9-3 PSAC East) on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at Kutztown's Keystone Field.

Major Milestones

Mitarotonda's fourth goal of the game and 300th career goal, which broke the conference record, tied the game at 9-9 with 7:13 remaining. Mitarotonda found Sophia Graffeo for the go-ahead goal with 4:40 left to complete the comeback win after trailing 9-7 in the fourth quarter. She moved up to third all-time in NCAA Division II history with the goal.

The Warriors stayed in the contest with an all-time performance by Warrior goalkeeper Abby Simonetti. The junior made 27 saves, the most by a Warrior since 2006, and is the most by an NCAA DII goalkeeper this season. Simonetti's 27 saves are the third most among all goalkeepers this season in NCAA DI, DII, or DIII. Only Division III's Jordan Prendergast (Pfeiffer, 29) and Amani Jamal (Purchase, 28) have recorded more saves in a single game than Simonetti in 2024.

The Last to Wear #24

Prior to her final home game and becoming the all-time PSAC goals leader, the ESU athletic department announced that Emily Mitarotonda will be the last Warrior in program history to wear the number 24. ESU will officially retire the number during a jersey retirement ceremony next season. Mitarotonda is a three-time IWLCA All-America selection and currently ranks third in goals per game and fifth in caused turnovers per game. She is the first Warrior to register 100-plus points in two seasons and is just five goals away from breaking her own single-season program record for goals for the third time. She holds three of the top single-season point totals in program history, leading ESU to a PSAC title, three NCAA Tournaments, two Atlantic Region championships, and an NCAA Championship game appearance.

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Notables

• Mitarotonda led the way offensively with four goals and two assists for six points. She scooped six ground balls and won three draw controls while causing two turnovers.
• Courtney Reynolds poured in a pair of goals, including a last-second free-position goal prior to halftime to knot the score at 4-4.
• Paige Moreland, Sophia Graffeo, Hannah Schiemer, and Jolee Roth each found the back of the net. Mary Fitzsimmons and Paige Moreland added assists.
• Simonetti's 27 saves are the most by a Warrior since 2006. Only Julie Smith (29 & 28, 2006) and Sandy Stackhouse (36, 1986) have recorded more saves than the Millington, Md. native.

How It Happened

• The back-and-forth affair featured six tied scores. Kutztown scored the first two goals before Mitarotonda and Schiemer knotted the game at 2-2 early in the second quarter. The two teams continued to trade goals, as Reynolds fired a last-second free-position goal to lift ESU to a 4-4 tie with KU at halftime.
• ESU took its first lead at 5-4 in the third quarter, with Roth depositing a goal. The Golden Bears countered with three consecutive goals to grab a 7-5 lead with 7:20 remaining.
• After another trade of goals, KU retook a 9-7 lead with 11:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, in what would be the last goal for the Golden Bears. Mitarotonda was involved in all three goals, firing an assist to Moreland, before depositing her 300th career goal to knot the game at 9-9 with 7:13 to go.
• With the game even, Mitarotonda found Graffeo for the game-winner with 4:40 left.
• Simonetti made five saves over the final four minutes to preserve the lead and win for the Warriors in a gutsy performance.

Up Next

• In the PSAC Tournament, ESU will head to Kutztown on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at Keystone Stadium in the PSAC Quarterfinal round. The winner will head to Greensburg, Pa. against PSAC Semifinal and Final host Seton Hill on Friday.

NCAA DII ALL-TIME GOALS LEADERS (as of 5/4/24)

1. Sydney Tiemann, 316 goals (Maryville, McKendree) 2021-pres.
2. Hunter Isnardi, 310 goals (Mercy) 2016-19
3. Emily Mitarotonda, 300 goals (East Stroudsburg) 2021-pres.
4. Katelyn Martin, 299 goals (West Chester) 2003-06
5. Arden Kassaleh, 295 goals (Caldwell) 2017-21
T-6. Hannan Stanislawczyk, 288 goals (West Chester) 2021-pres.
T-6. 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, 89 goals, 2022
2. Emily Mitarotonda, 84 goals, 2024
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, 111, 2022
2. Emily Mitarotonda, 108, 2024
3. Gianna LeDuc, 108, 2022
4. Kiki Fitzpatrick 103, 2022
5. Lauren Nunes, 363, 2013-16
6. Emily Mitarotonda, 94, 2023

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