NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 22 Rutgers women's lacrosse (4-3, 0-1) delivered a come-from-behind win over Vanderbilt (2-5) on Monday afternoon in Nashville. Down 10-9 in the fourth quarter, the Scarlet Knights netted three consecutive goals in the final nine minutes of the game to secure their fourth win of the season.
 
With the Scarlet Knights down one in the fourth quarter, graduate student Marin Hartshorn drilled the game-tying goal with 8:36 left to play. Senior Cassidy Spilis then gave RU its first lead off a free-position attempt at the 5:16 mark, while junior Mikayla Dever added an insurance goal at the buzzer to secure the comeback. Rutgers forced the Commodores into three turnovers during the final five minutes of the game to help preserve the win.
 
Hartshorn finished with a game-high six points on three goals and three assists, including the 100th goal of her career, while senior Spilis and junior Kate Carolonza both added hat tricks. Senior Ashley Campo also tallied three points on the day with two crucial goals and an assist.
 
RU used a dominant 17-8 advantage on the draw, led by senior Meghan Ball's six and Spilis' five. Junior goalkeeper Sophia Cardello registered her fourth win of the season thanks to 10 saves.
 
Vanderbilt scored first before Hartshorn finished rolling from the right side to provide the first tie of the afternoon. The Commodores added back-to-back goals to counter, but scores from Carolonza and Hartshorn made it 3-3 after the first 15 minutes of play.
 
The back-and-forth play continued in the second quarter, as a score from Sammy Nuchow provided Vanderbilt with a 6-4 lead with 4:33 left before the break. Campo made sure it was a one-goal deficit before the locker room, taking a pass from rookie Ava Kane after a Rutgers' timeout for the finish. Rutgers entered halftime trailing 6-5 despite holding a 10-to-3 advantage from the center circle and outshooting the Commodores, 16-14, in the first half.
 
Hartshorn found Carolonza for the game's third tie of the afternoon, as Carolonza's second made it a 6-6 game with 13:07 left in the third quarter. Three more ties would follow into the fourth quarter before Vanderbilt's Bri Gross gave the home team a 10-9 lead with 13:41 to play.
 
The Scarlet Knights settled in down the stretch and leaned on their veterans to deliver the road win. After calling a timeout, RU drew up a play for Hartshorn, who tied the game with a rocket shot from 16 meters out for the tie. Ball then forced a turnover on Vanderbilt's next try, which eventually set up Spilis for the go-ahead score.
 
Up Next
Rutgers hosts No. 11 Maryland on Saturday at SHI Stadium. First draw is set for noon ET and will stream on Big Ten Plus. Saturday's game will serve as Alumnae & Letterwinners Day as well as the program's youth day.