PHILADELPHIA – The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team will open the 2009 season on Wednesday, traveling to Temple for a 3 p.m. matchup against the Owls at Geasey Field. The Scarlet Knights, which return all of their scoring from last season, will be looking to improve on a 7-10 record in 2008.

Rutgers is led offensively by junior Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.),who finished the 2008 season with a team-high 36 goals to go along with 13 assists. Cantwell was named First Team All-BIG EAST and garnered All-Tournament honors at the BIG EAST Championships. Junior midfielder Mary Cryan (Newtown Square, Pa), a second team all-conference selection, scored a career-high 19 goals and added 13 assists last spring.

Temple ended 2008 with a 13-5 record, while capturing the Atlantic 10 championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. The Owls were selected to finish third in the 2009 A-10 preseason poll.

Temple is 16-3 all-time against Rutgers, including a 10-9 overtime victory last season at Yurcak Field. Cantwell led the team with three goals and Cryan and Meghan Flanagan (Medford N.J.) both had two assists for RU.

The last time the squads met in Philadelphia, the Scarlet Knights were victorious, topping the Owls 14-10 on March 30, 2007.