Field Hockey knocks off Lafayette, 2-1
Sep 07 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (September 7, 2014) –Rutgers rebounded from its first loss of the season with a strong performance, defeating Lafayette 2-1 at home on Sunday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights got two first-half goals and held stout down the stretch to record the victory.
With the win Rutgers improved to 3-1 on the season, while RU dealt Lafayette its first loss of the year.
“I’m really proud of how we came back to beat Lafayette today after a tough loss to Temple on Friday,” head coach Meredith Long said. “The team made great adjustments going into this game after watching film from Friday. They had a really specific game plan and they executed it extremely well.”
Rutgers came out of the gate strong and scored its first goal just over two minutes into the game. Captain Alyssa Bull (Oakville, Ontario) sent a pass across the goal cage, where junior forward Nicole Imbriacco (Clark, N.J.) slammed it home for the goal. The tally was Imbriacco’s third goal of the season.
Twenty minutes later, the Scarlet Knights got another goal, this time from an unexpected source. Sophomore Devon Freshnock (Middletown, N.J.) was starting her 20th career game on defense, but had yet to find the score sheet, notching just one assist in her career. Today, she charged to the net to follow up a Rutgers shot, and Katie Champion (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) slashed the ball in her direction. Freshnock launched the ball into the back of the cage, notching her first career goal.
“I’m so excited for Nicole,” Coach Long exclaimed. “Nicole is a player who is always working to try and improve, and it’s really paying off. Devon is such a solid defender for us, so for her to go up and get one today, is really exciting. She’s so skilled and strong, that goal was such a great finish.”
Lafayette scored their lone goal just 15 seconds before the halftime horn, as Kendall Weedling hit one into the net. In the second half, Rutgers withstood a late barrage from the Leopards, who took eight shots in the second stanza. RU goalkeeper Shevaun Hayes (Melbourne, Australia) stood tall, turning aside six shots on the day to record her third victory of the season.
Rutgers will next hit the road for the first time this season. The Scarlet Knights play at William and Mary Friday before travelling to the University of Virginia for a game Sunday.
Game Notes
- Nicole Imbriacco tallied her third goal of the season – setting a new career high.
- She has now scored in three of the first four games this year, leading the team in goals (3) and second in points (6).
- It was the first time in her career that she scored in consecutive games.
- Devon Freshnock scored the first goal of her career in her 22nd career game.
- Katie Champion’s assist was the second of her career.
- Alyssa Bull had her first assist of the season after leading the team with seven assists in 2012.
- At 3-1 Rutgers has notched its best start through four games since 2008 (started 6-0).
