Box Score
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Scott Bieda tied his career-high with seven points, while Jules Heningburg and Ryan Hollingsworth recorded multi-goal games, but Rutgers (4-8, 0-2 Big Ten) could not capture its first Big Ten win, falling 10-8 at Michigan.Joe Nardella had another strong game for Rutgers at the faceoff "X", winning 16-of-22 faceoffs against the Wolverines (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten).
"We had great individual efforts from both Scott Bieda and Joe Nardella today," head coach Brian Brecht said. "Ultimately, a few too many turnovers hurt us today. We weren't able to carry the momentum of the past few weeks on the road with us for sixty minutes today. After a slow start, we played well in the second quarter, but couldn't sustain that for the whole second half."
After a scoreless five minutes to open the game, Michigan got the scoring started with a three-goal spurt. In a span of 3:12, Michigan scored three times to open up a lead. That score would hold until late in the first quarter, when Rutgers started a streak of three consecutive goals of its own.
With 41 seconds left in the first stanza, Hollingsworth fired in the first goal of the day for the visitors. In the second quarter, Brian Goss continued to chip into the deficit as he fired one into the upper corner to make the score 3-2. Finally, it was Bieda who came through with the equalizer, making a strong individual play as he crossed in front and finished off a diving shot to tie the game at 3-3.
The game was tied for just 46 seconds before Michigan found a quick answer. But again Rutgers responded, scoring just 39 seconds after that. Jeff George found Bieda stationed at the far post, and the junior slammed it home to even the score at 4-4.
Late in the second quarter, the Scarlet Knights scored a goal that would give them the lead heading into the halftime locker room. Bieda found Heningburg in front, and the freshman finished the play off for a 5-4 advantage heading into the half.
Bieda would register points of every one of RU's first half goals, recording two goals and three assists. The first half saw an opportunistic Rutgers squad record a 15-7 edge in ground balls and win nine of 11 faceoffs.
The Blue and Maize opened the scoring in the third quarter, scoring the first two goals to go ahead 6-5. However, the home team's lead was brief, as RU won the ensuing faceoff and Zack Sikora sent the ball to the back of the cage for a 6-6 tie.
After that point, the Wolverines controlled the third quarter action. Michigan would score four straight goals to close the frame and take a 10-6 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Rutgers started its comeback. Heningburg tallied his second of the day to cut into the lead, and then Hollingsworth scored his second of the game while absorbing a hit from a defender. However, the Scarlet Knights could not score again and fell 10-8.
Joe Nardella was 16-of-22 on faceoffs for Rutgers and had six ground balls. Kris Alleyne made nine saves in the cage.
Ian King had four goals for the Wolverines, while Kyle Jackson added three goals. Gerald Logan, who entered the game fourth in the nation in saves per game, made 13 stops.
Next up for the Scarlet Knights is a Sunday night home contest against No. 3 Maryland. The game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be televised nationally by the Big Ten Network.
NOTES
- Scott Bieda's seven points tied his career-high, previously set this season vs. NJIT.
- Bieda's five assists were a career-high and the most this season by a Scarlet Knight.
- Bieda now has 46 points on the season, a new career-best.
- Brian Goss' 16th goal of the season tied his career-high.
- Ryan Hollingsworth's two goals tie his career-high mark for goals and points in a game.
- Jeff George (who had two assists) now has 17 points on the season, a new career-high.
- Nardella now has 102 ground balls on the season, reaching triple digits in ground balls for the third consecutive season.
- Zack Sikorais up to six points on the season, a new career-high.
- It was Heningburg's fifth multi-goal game of the season, and third consecutive game with at least two goals.
