WEST CHESTER, PA –
Keri Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and
Hannah Stanislawczyk (Mohnton, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) each recorded hat tricks, but No. 5 West Chester dropped a critical Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown at home to No. 7 East Stroudsburg Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (4-1, 2-1 PSAC East) committed too many unforced errors on failed clears against another Top 10 program in East Stroudsburg (6-0, 2-0). The Warriors' Kiki Fitzpatrick and Emily Mitarotonda made the Golden Rams pay for those mistakes in unsettled situations at the other end. Fitzpatrick finished with a game-high five goals while Mitarotonda added five points (3G, 2A) in the win.
Trailing 12-5 at the end of the third quarter, West Chester mounted a small comeback bid with four straight markers to open the fourth, which made it a 12-9 game with just under eight minutes to go. Stanislawczyk started the rally, and Barnett netted three straight to finish it out. However, ESU got a goal from Lauren Neufeld with 4:13 left to put the game away.
West Chester turned the ball over 26 times and cleared the ball successfully only 16 of 23 times. East Stroudsburg also held a 14-11 advantage on draws, though the Golden Rams closed that gap in the second half a little.
Amber Weedon (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) played well in the opening quarter, making five saves on seven shots on goal. Weedon (2-1) finished with eight saves in almost 45 minutes of action.
Jessica Gorr (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) played most of the fourth quarter, making a pair of saves.
Lindsay Monigle (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Cape Henlopen) scored twice and added a pair of assists to finish with four points.
Julia Littlewood (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) scored for West Chester as well.
Julia Rossi (Hamilton Square, N.J./Notre Dame) caused five turnovers and scooped up eight ground balls defensively for the Golden Rams.
West Chester hosts Bloomsburg on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Vonnie Gros Field. The game will serve as West Chester's Senior Day when the Golden Rams honor their graduating senior class before the game.
