EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Senior goalie Alyssa Lerda (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) made five saves as the IUP field hockey team dropped a 2-0 decision to second-ranked and defending national champion East Stroudsburg, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action Tuesday afternoon.

With the loss, the Crimson Hawks fall to 7-6 overall and 3-4 in league play. Meanwhile, the Warriors improve to 13-3 and 7-1 in PSAC contests.

In the first half, IUP nearly struck first as a shot from sophomore Matti Reightler (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) was saved at the 20:12-mark. East Stroudsburg then jumped out to a 1-0 lead one minute later as Sydney McCarthy found the back of the cage.

The Warriors jumped out quickly in the second half as they peppered the IUP defense with five shots in the first 10 minutes of the half. Reightler, who led the Crimson Hawks with three shots, had another shot saved in the 46th minute before a goal from Bailey Quinn provided the winning margin.

Lerda suffered the loss while playing all 70 minutes. She recorded five or more saves in a game for the sixth time this season and for the fourth time in her last five games. East Stroudsburg goalie Danielle Ard earned the win while making two saves.

IUP returns to action when it finishes a four game road trip with a matchup at Bloomsburg on Saturday at 11 a.m.

For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP field hockey on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfieldhockey.