Box Score Photo Gallery

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's lacrosse dropped its Big Ten Conference opener, 15-8, Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium against No. 15/16 Penn State. RU made a push with three-straight goals to end the game, but fell short in the loss.

The Scarlet Knights (1-10, 0-1 Big Ten) welcomed back former players for Alumnae Day to usher in the Big Ten Conference era. RU also played its first-ever game on national television on Big Ten Network.

Junior attacker Halley Barnes (Garnet Valley, Pa.), who led Rutgers with a hat trick, scored the program's first Big Ten Conference goal in the opening minutes, giving the team an early 1-0 lead. Penn State (8-3, 1-0 Big Ten) fought back with five consecutive goals to establish a lead it would not relinquish.

Rutgers responded midway through the first half, scoring back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 8-4 with 4:40 left in the opening stanza. Redshirt senior midfielder Lauren Sbrilli (Martinsville, N.J.) and sophomore midfielder Kristina Dunphey (Hillsborough, N.J.) provided the scores.

Facing a 15-5 deficit late in the second half, the Scarlet Knights continued to attack, closing the game on a 3-0 run. Junior attacker Kim Kolodny (Farmingdale, N.Y.) got the stretch going with an unassisted goal at the 4:41 mark. Sbrilli followed up a minute later with the 99th goal of her career, before Barnes completed her hat trick at 1:05 to cut the score to its final, 15-8.

Senior goalkeeper Candice Dandridge (Cherry Hill, N.J.) made 10 saves against the Nittany Lions - her sixth outing with double-digit stops. Redshirt senior defender Hollie DiMuro (West Babylon, N.Y.) led RU on the defensive end, causing a team-best three turnovers and collecting four ground balls.

Koldony and Sbrilli added assists to go with their two goals. Rookie midfielder Amanda Casten (Brick, N.J.) notched an assist in the game for the first points of her career. She has started the last seven games.

Three Nittany Lions - Tatum Coffey, Maggie McCormick and Katie O'Donnell - recorded hat tricks in the contest.

Rutgers is back in action on national television on Tuesday against Lehigh. Opening draw is set for 7 p.m. on BTN.

Game Notes
·Sbrilli can join the 100-goal club with one more score after posting a two-goal effort Saturday. She has 23 goals and four assists for a team-high 27 points.
·Barnes posted her second game this season with three or more goals. She now has 14 goals and seven assists for 21 points.
·Casten made her seventh-straight start and leads all freshmen in starts this season.
·Koldony has scored at least two goals in eight of 11 games.
·Dandridge made 10 saves for her sixth double-digit outing. She has 99 saves on the year.
·DiMuro's three caused turnovers were the most for a Rutgers player this season.

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