Rutgers Defeats BIG EAST Foe Connecticut 10-6
Apr 06 | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. - Three players scored hat tricks as the Rutgers women's lacrosse team earned a 10-6 BIG EAST road victory over Connecticut on Sunday afternoon in Storrs, Conn. The Scarlet Knights (6-6, 2-1) have won the last three games in the series, improving to 9-2 all-time against the Huskies (1-11, 0-4), including a 6-2 mark in BIG EAST play.
"We are really happy to come away with a win, especially with a conference win," said head coach Laura Brand. "Even though we fell behind, the team played hard and we were able to come away with the win."
Rutgers found itself trailing early as UConn scored three of the game's first four goals to take a 3-1 lead, with RU's only score coming from freshman Kristen Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.). But the Scarlet Knights bounced back, tying the game on goals by Jennifer Schmitt (Perry Hall, Md.) and Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.). UConn's Kim McGinty scored to give the Huskies a 4-3 advantage, but RU answered with goals from Marley Welsh (Jarretsville, Md.) and Anderson, the latter coming with 19 seconds to go in the period, giving Rutgers a 5-4 halftime lead.
Anderson posted her third goal of the game early in the second half to give the Scarlet Knights a 6-4 edge. Michele Whitney answered for the home team, bringing the Huskies to within one, but that was as close as they got, as Rutgers scored four of the last five goals, including two apiece from Cantwell and Schmitt, to win 10-6. Anderson, Schmitt and Cantwell each scored three goals in the victory. Cantwell also finished with two assists, as did sophomore Meghan Flanagan (Medford, N.J.).
"Defensively we did some good things and our defenders really stepped up and took some chances," said Brand. "We played very good team defense today and the girls did a good job of covering their opponents. Sandra Abel (Monrovia, Md.) did a tremendous job today, she stopped some point-blank shots."
UConn's six goals ties the season-low for an opponent's score, as RU also held Hofstra to six tallies in the team's 9-6 victory on March 19. The win marks the fifth time in the last six games that RU has held its opponent to single-digit scoring. Rutgers' opponents have averaged 7.8 goals per game in the last six games after scoring 13.2 goals per game in the team's first six games.
The Scarlet Knights have won three consecutive games for the second time this season and stand at .500 for the first time since 2007. Abel recorded 11 saves against the Huskies, giving her a career-high 124 on the season. Her previous career-high was 115, set during her rookie campaign in 2006. Anderson has nine goals in her last two games after scoring eight goals in the team's first 10 games.
Rutgers closes out its season with four consecutive home games. First up is non-conference opponent Monmouth at Yurcak Field on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m.
