Women’s Lacrosse Hosts Niagara Tuesday Night

Tuesday, March 27

Piscataway, NJ

7:00PM

Rutgers University

Niagara

Photo by: Rich Graessle

Mar 26 | Women's Lacrosse

Rutgers Notes Live Stream Live Results Rutgers vs. Niagara Flip Card Tickets

Scarlet Knights play Purple Eagles in out-of-conference midweek action

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse returns home, hosting Niagara in out-of-conference action on Tuesday night at High Point Solutions Stadium. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. ET start and will broadcast on BTN2Go with Lou Brogno on the call.

Promotions and Giveaways
All fans in attendance will be able to purchase hot dogs for just $1.

Last Time Out
Despite a hat trick from senior Paige Paratore and 15 saves from junior Devon Kearns, Rutgers dropped a 12-10 road game to Ohio State last Friday in Columbus. After trailing at halftime, the Scarlet Knights tied up the game midway through the second half and got the score to within two late in the game, but could not finish the comeback against the Buckeyes.

Junior Dana Gisonno added her fourth multi-goal outing of 2018 with two goals off the bench, while five others contributed scores. On defense, redshirt junior Christine DiLullo scooped up a game-high six ground balls, while junior Regina Sharp secured five draw controls and caused two turnovers.

For the second time in her last three games, Kearns matched a single game career high with 15 saves, which included eight in the first half and seven in the second.

Scouting Niagara
The Purple Eagles enter Tuesday's game with a 4-5 record and a 1-0 mark in MAAC action. In its last time out, NU opened up conference action with a 13-12 home victory over Iona last Saturday. Alexis Morales and Rachel MacCheyne each produced a hat trick for Niagara, while Shea Swartwout added two scores in the win.

Through nine games, MacCheyne leads the team with 37 points and 29 goals. Three Purple Eagles have produced eight assists this season, while MacCheyne leads the program with 55 draw controls in 2018. Lauren Paul has scooped up a team-leading 30 ground balls and has caused 13 turnovers for Niagara.

Both Olivia Schroeder and Aubrey DeVeau have split time in cage for the Purple Eagles, as Schroeder leads the team with 51 saves and a .395 save percentage to go along with a 15.08 GAA.

The Series
Both programs met for the first time last season, with RU earning an 18-8 victory over NU at High Point Solutions Stadium. Kristina Dunphey added her second hat trick in as many games, then-sophomore Abbey Brooks collected her first three-goal outing of the season and then-junior Kerri Puckhaber contributed five points as the Scarlet Knights produced its highest single-game goal total of the year.

Stacking Up Against the Big Ten
Puckhaber (10th, 2.11 GPG) ranks within the top-10 of individual goal scorers within the conference this season. Brooks is fifth in the Big Ten with 1.20 assists per game, while Puckhaber is ninth with 3.00 points per game.

On defense, Sharp is fifth in the Big Ten with 2.20 ground balls per game and Kearns is fourth in saves per game with 8.10. Sophomore Samantha Budd is seventh in draw controls with 3.5 per contest.

Tough 2018 Schedule
Rutgers possesses one of the toughest schedules in the country this year and has already been put to the test. The Scarlet Knights have played No. 4 James Madison, No. 8 Penn and No. 18 Penn State this season, and are set to compete against No. 2 Maryland, No. 11 Northwestern, No. 21 Cornell and No. 22 Johns Hopkins in 2018.

Puckhaber Filling the Stat Sheet
Puckhaber has produced six multi-goal outings this season, tied with Paratore for the most for RU in 2018. Puckhaber has secured hat tricks in two of her last three games, which included a five-point, three-goal outing on March 17 against No. 17 Penn State.

Next Time Out
Rutgers hits the road to face Cornell on Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m. ET in Ithaca, New York.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the program Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram @RULaxBrand. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.