EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – IUP women's lacrosse gave eighth-ranked East Stroudsburg all it could handle on Sunday, falling just short by a 13-10 tally.
 
IUP (1-3) dealt with some tough luck, trailing 9-5 at halftime with a late push despite playing relatively even with East Stroudsburg (3-1) statistically. The Crimson Hawks later trimmed the deficit to one goal at 11-10 early in the fourth before the Warriors netted three of the final four markers of the contest.
 
Sarah Reustle guided IUP once again with three goals and seven draw controls as Jordan Kulp and Kathryn Burke posted two goals each. Kulp also finished with three points, adding an assist and four ground balls in the Sunday showdown.
 
Kim Carpentiere and Burke gobbled up four ground balls each with IUP holding the edge in shots (26-24) and ground balls (25-20) on the day. Hannah Schiemer paced the Warriors, who went to last year's national title game and entered the season ranked first in the nation, with four goals and an assist.
 
Three other ESU goal scorers posted a pair of tallies each, while Campbell Heller notched six draw controls. In goal, Maddy Schramm made six saves with Riley DiFiore recording 10 stops.
 
The Hawks opened the scoring with consecutive goals not even three minutes into the game as Burk and Brenna Whiteside provided an early advantage. ESU eventually settled in, battling back for a 5-3 edge after the first quarter of play.
 
The first quarter comeback was part of a larger stretch of six unanswered goals for the Warriors, which led 8-3 in the second. The Hawks responded with a surge of their own as Chantal Jimenez and Kulp sandwiched goals around a Kiki Fitzpatrick marker to close out the half.
 
Trailing 9-7 in the third, IUP again used a quick start, slicing the deficit to 9-7 with Kulp and Emme Mass finding the score sheet. The Hawks continued to narrow the gap with back-to-back goals from Ruestle making it a one-goal game in the fourth.
 
ESU finished with three of the final four goals, including a stretch of two straight for some breathing room at 12-9.
 
Up Next
IUP visits Gannon on Wednesday, March 15 for a 4:00 p.m. start.
 
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