KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After a slow first quarter falling behind by four goals, the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team played just about even with sixth-ranked East Stroudsburg the rest of the way and was within just three goals late in the fourth quarter. But time ran out on the KU rally as the Warriors held on for an 11-6 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division win Wednesday evening at Keystone Field.
 
Just like in the opening game between the two teams on March 30, the Golden Bears (4-10 overall, 1-8 PSAC) gave East Stroudsburg (12-1, 8-1) all it could handle. ESU entered after its first and only defeat of the season at the hands of No. 4 West Chester last weekend, so the Warriors played with added motivation.
 
Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) scored her team-leading 38th goal of the season 5:12 into the game to give Kutztown an early 1-0 lead. East Stroudsburg did not stay behind for long, tying it 0:58 later in the first of five consecutive goals to finish off the opening frame ahead 5-1.
 
The final three quarters were more evenly played. Just like they did in the opening frame, the Maroon and Gold scored first in the second quarter, thanks to the first of two second quarter goals out of Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills). ESU netted two straight before the teams traded goals finishing the half with the Warriors on top 8-3 at halftime following a goal from Gianna LeDuc of East Stroudsburg with 3:47 left in the half. That would be the final goal from either team until the fourth quarter.
 
When East Stroudsburg took its largest advantage of the game with a goal 0:51 into the fourth, it looked bleak for a potential KU comeback. But Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) and Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) got things going in a positive direction with back-to-back goals 1:46 apart from each other and Kutztown trailed 9-5 with 10:12 remaining. ElBouazzaoui added her second of the game with 4:45 to play and Kutztown cut its deficit to 9-6.
 
The Warriors, however, answered with their backs against the wall and tallied two goals with under 2:00 to play to hold on and avoid the upset.
 
Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) led KU with five ground balls. Sydnie Bisesi (Denton, Md./North Caroline), Conteh, Graf and Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) combined for eight draw controls, each winning two. Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) finished with 15 saves in net, second-most this season.
 
Kutztown has its final home game of the 2022 season this Saturday, April 23, when it welcomes Shippensburg to town for a 1 p.m., game. KU defeated the Raiders 15-11 back on March 26.

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