PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 15 Rutgers field hockey swept its opening weekend away from home, winning for the second time in consecutive days with a 5-2 victory over Richmond. The victory came less than 12 hours after a 3-0 victory over No. 12 Duke as RU opened with an unbeaten weekend.
The Scarlet Knights got a pair of goals from
Tayla Parkes, while
Lucy Bannatyne,
Kassidy Shetler and
Rachel Houston all scored for RU. The Scarlet Knights dominated play throughout the game, holding the advantage in shots (23-6) and penalty corners (11-1).
Rutgers put the pressure on from the outset of the contest. The team registered the first four shots and three corners of the game in the opening five minutes. The Scarlet Knights would register the opening goal of the game, capitalizing on numbers going forward, and
Katie Larmour fed
Tayla Parkes, who put RU ahead 1-0.
However, Richmond countered with a goal five minutes later, using a quick counterattack to find the back of the net. The goal would tie the score at 1-1 late in the first quarter.
The score would remain even into halftime. RU controlled the opening 30 minutes in shots (11-1) and corners (5-0).
RU had a flurry in the third quarter to take command, scoring three times in the third quarter. The Scarlet Knights found the scoreboard again halfway through the frame. Off a penalty corner,
Milena Redlingshoefer slid the ball across to
Kassidy Shetler, who finished the play off to put RU ahead 2-1.
Just three minutes later, it was
Rachel Houston putting the team ahead 3-1. Then two minutes after that,
Lucy Bannatyne laid out to put home her second goal of the weekend and give RU a 4-1 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Richmond added to their ledger by converting on a penalty stroke early in the frame. RU answered with another goal from
Tayla Parkes, who poked home a loose ball to put RU ahead 5-2, and the team held on from there.
The Scarlet Knights next game comes next Friday at No. 6 UConn. That game will begin at 6 p.m.
Postgame Notes
