Ronald Hanaki
Staff Writer
ESU Women’s Lacrosse defeated Slippery Rock University 20-6 in the fourth annual Alyssa Oxenford Memorial Game at Whitenight Field last Saturday, March 30.
It was the team’s sixth straight win and the Warriors have now won seven of their last eight games.
Slippery Rock gave the top-ranked Warriors all the competition they could handle.
The score was tied at four halfway through the first period.
Sophomore attack Gianna
They lead Slippery Rock 14-4 ten minutes into the second half and never looked back.
This was also the fourth annual Alyssa Oxenford Memorial Game. Oxenford was a former member of the team who passed away from leukemia three-and-a-half years ago.
“This game is always an important event for us to honor her and her family and the memory of her on our team. She was a Warrior, and she was a player for us until the last day she lived,” Barakos-Yoder said.
Barakos-Yoder was also pleased with the turnout for the game.
“It’s always great to see our alumni and our extended Warrior family. They are a huge part of who we are, and they help support this program,” stated Barakos-Yoder.
Sophomore attack Krista Mitarotonda and senior attack T.J. Jefferis both recorded 100 goals for their college careers.
“I think it was the Alyssa game, and we came out fighting for something bigger than us. We just wanted to come out and play our game,” Mitarotonda said.
Junior midfielder Hana Cicerelle scored her 100th career goal against Edinboro on Mar. 23.
“Today was a family win. Everyone stepped up today,” Cicerelle said.
Cicerelle is one of the team captains and leads the team in points with 32 goals and 18 assists.
“I think Coach is amazing, and she makes us better every day,” Cicerelle said.
It’s that directness and honesty from her coach that has helped Cicerelle refine her game. For the junior, it was her off-hand work that needed help initially as a freshman.
Now in her third year, her left hand is where she holds the stick during games. Despite her being a captain, she continues to work on her weaknesses and improve her game all around.
During the offseason, the team spent some of their time volunteering at the Warrior Food Pantry at St. Matthew’s Church in East Stroudsburg. Cicerelle credits that time as helping build team chemistry.
“It’s a time to just stop everything,” Cicerelle said. “It’s about worrying about other people and helping them because we really are fortunate and blessed to have what we have.”
That team chemistry coupled with exceptional play has the Warriors currently sitting in first place atop the PSAC with a perfect 5-0 conference record.
ESU is ranked No. 9 in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Coaches’ Poll released on Monday.
ESU (8-2, 5-0) will pay a visit to IUP (3-5, 1-3) to play the Crimson Hawks under first-year Head Coach Brenna Gallagher this Saturday, April 6.
Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu
