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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The goals kept coming in bunches for the Rutgers field hockey team on Friday afternoon. The best scoring attack in the Big Ten put up a season-high five goals, pushing past Villanova 5-2, and improving to 4-1 on the season.

Alyssa Bull and Nicole Imbriaco each scored two goals and Sofia Walia added another for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights controlled the game, outshooting the Wildcats 25-8.

"I'm really proud of the team for coming out and getting the win against Villanova today," head coach Meredith Civico said. "We played some really good hockey, scored five really good goals on both set pieces and open field play, so that was a really positive takeaway. The team attacking mentality is really strong. We've got a number of different players scoring and contributing, which is exciting to see. That's been something we've been focused on since last spring, so I'm pleased to see that hard work translating into gameplay."

Bull got the Scarlet Knights on the board first, scoring nine minutes into the game. After a corner, her initial shot was blocked, but she stayed with it and finished for a 1-0 RU lead. Imbriaco added a first half goal as well, putting home a rebound of a Rachel Yaney shot to give Rutgers a 2-0 lead at the break.

As the second half started, Imbriaco quickly found her scoring touch again. Stationed at the right post, she slid the ball under the goalkeeper for the game's third tally.

Villanova answered with a goal, but Walia responded right back for the home team, blasting in a shot from the top of the circle for a 4-1 lead. The Wildcats would cut the deficit again, but again RU had a quick response. After a corner Bull sent home her second goal of the day to give Rutgers a 5-2 final margin of victory.

The Scarlet Knights had a 12-7 edge in penalty corners on the day. Shevaun Hayes made four saves to improve her record to 4-1.

Big Ten Conference play begins next weekend for the Scarlet Knights. The team plays at No. 15 Iowa on Friday, than has a neutral site game the next day against Missouri State.

"We have some things to fine tune going into next weekend's match against Iowa," Civico said. "The team will take the time to enjoy these two wins this week and then get back to work."

Game Notes

Nicole Imbriaco had two goals in a game for the first time in her career.

The Clark, N.J. native has five goals on the season through five games, tying her career-high, set last season in 19 games.

She has 12 points on the season, a new career high.

Imbriaco's five goals are currently the most in the Big Ten Conference.

Alyssa Bull had two goals for the second time in her career and first since Oct. 5, 2012 at Georgetown.

She has three assists on the season, a new career-high.

Ali Stever had two assists. She now has three assists and five points on the season, both new career highs.

Katie Champion also recorded an assist, her second of the season.

Rutgers has scored at least three goals in every game, and at least four goals in each of the last four games.

RU's 4.00 goals-per-game leads the Big Ten Conference.

Six different players (Bull, Devon Freshnock, Champion, Walia, Imbriaco and Yaney) have now scored multiple goals this season, while 13 players have recorded at least one point.

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