COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rutgers field hockey took control in the second half on Sunday afternoon, pulling away from #23 Old Dominion for a 5-1 victory. After heading into halftime tied at one, the Scarlet Knights scored four second-half goals to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Freshman Daphne Groothuis led the way with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Nikki Santore had a goal and an assist. Megan Cunningham and Linde van Schaik each had one tally apiece. Freshman Gianna Glatz had five saves to earn the win in goal.

"Today was a great win," head coach Meredith Civico said. "The team was smart, they stuck together and they executed the game plan. In the second half, they made some adjustments that we spoke about. Daphne Groothuis had an excellent game. She's really stepping up and being a contributor for us. I thought Nikki Santore had her best game of the season up in the front. The backs, the midfielders, and Gianna Glatz in goal were just so disciplined, tight, and did a fantastic job limiting ODU's opportunities. We can take momentum and confidence from this, but we're still taking it one game at a time and focusing on what we need to do to get better, game-to-game."

Just six minutes into the neutral site contest, the Scarlet Knights struck first. Santore sent a pass up to Groothuis, who finished for the first goal of the game.

Late in the first half, ODU scored to even the game, knocking in a bouncing ball in front. The game went into intermission tied at 1-1.

In the second half, RU took command. Groothuis scored the game-winning goal just 72 seconds into the second frame.

Rutgers capitalized on a penalty corner for its third goal. Van Schaik inserted the corner, then Groothuis slid the ball back to her, and van Schaik flipped it over the goalkeeper for a 3-1 lead.

With 12 minutes left in the game, the Scarlet Knights added a fourth goal. Groothuis took a shot, and redshirt sophomore Megan Cunningham redirected it in for a 4-1 lead.

As the clock wound down, Rutgers added a final goal. The last play of regulation was a penalty corner, and Santore tipped in a shot from Austyn Cuneo for the 5-1 final margin.

The Scarlet Knights will remain on the road next weekend. Friday's game is an in-state battle at No. 8 Princeton.

Postgame Notes

• The ranked win is RU's first of the season and fourth all-time. The last ranked win came last season on September 25, a 2-0 win over No. 15 Iowa.
• The last time Rutgers started a season 4-0 was 2008. This is the team's best start to a season under current head coach Meredith Civico.
• Groothuis, who had the game-winning goal in both games this weekend, tied her career-high with a six-point day.
• Groothuis leads the team with six goals and 15 points.
• Cunningham's goal was her first of the season.
• Cuneo's assist, her first at Rutgers, gives her seven points on the season, tying her previous career high.
• Rutgers is outscoring opponents 19-2 this season, including 12-1 in the second half. 
• This is Rutgers first ever win against Old Dominion in five lifetime meetings.

 
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