WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Vonnie Gros Field on the campus of West Chester University has been unkind to the Kutztown women's lacrosse team in recent years. And that continued in 2024. After falling in both of its postseason games last season (PSACs, NCAAs) on that turf, the same thing happened Thursday afternoon as KU could not overcome East Stroudsburg in an 11-7 defeat in an NCAA Atlantic Regional semifinal.
The Golden Bears' (15-6 overall) historic campaign, which includes the most wins in a season in program history, came to an end just as it did last year as the Warriors (13-6) beat them in regionals.
Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), who finished with one goal and one assist for two points on the day, tied the program record for points in a career with 233. She is also one goal shy of tying the program record for career goals with 176. Both milestones should be achieved next season.
Graf's goal came within the first 2:07 of the game as the Maroon and Gold were off and running, taking an early 1-0 lead, but that was the final time they would be ahead. East Stroudsburg would score back-to-back goals in a span of 1:52 to take its first lead of the game at 2-1. The two teams traded goals to finish the quarter as
Alexis Plesic (Hanover, Pa./South Western) found the back of the net with 1:21 left in the opening frame, but Warriors leading scorer Emily Mitarotonda scored on a free position shot just 0:12 later as her team had a 3-2 advantage after one.
The Maroon and Gold tied the game once again at 3-3 off a tally by
Olivia Eilbacher (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) 2:00 into the second quarter. But from there, Kutztown found itself behind the rest of the way. ESU answered with three consecutive goals.
Lauren Lamorte (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) stopped the streak with a goal on an assist by Graf with 2:07 left in the half and the Golden Bears went into intermission trailing 6-4.
Once again in the third quarter, the Warriors scored consecutive goals in connecting on back-to-back goals for an 8-4 lead. KU would get one back from the free position by
Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), but East Stroudsburg added another with 1:44 left for a 9-5 edge heading to the fourth.
ESU took its largest advantage of the game of five goals (10-5) when Mitarotonda tallied her fifth on the day with 12:14 to play, taking a little bit of air out of the tanks of the Golden Bears and their faithful. They gave a little bit of a run as ElBouazzaoui recorded back-to-back goals within 1:54 of each other and her team now down 10-7 with 9:28 to play.
East Stroudsburg called timeout and Kutztown was unable to break through the rest of the way.
Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) had a stellar overall performance in net for the Maroon and Gold, finishing with a career-high 16 saves. She kept her team in it the whole way. Her counterpart, Warriors goalie Abby Simonetti, made 18 saves as both keepers did their parts.
Emily Christiansen (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury) had a team-best two caused turnovers. Graf,
Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) and
Rowan Hall (Sloatsburg, N.Y./Suffern) each won two draw controls and Conteh and Christiansen both led the team with three ground balls.
Head coach
Kristen Nicholson and her squad will be back and primed for more next season. KU will graduate some program greats in Blesson, Conteh,
Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland),
Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford),
Marissa Giancola (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional),
Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional),
Kelly Askins (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) and
Madeline Anemone (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell). But there is still plenty of talent, and now, postseason experienced student-athletes returning.
