LOWELL, Mass. – No. 20 Rutgers field hockey dropped a 2-1 decision in overtime at UMass Lowell on Friday afternoon. The River Hawks scored in the second minute of overtime to drop the Scarlet Knights to 7-8 overall on the season. The Scarlet Knights played their 10^th game this season to be determined by one-goal, fourth game into overtime, and lost to a River Hawks squad (8-7) who remained undefeated on their home field this season.

Guillermina Causarano scored the lone goal of the game for RU. She now shares the team lead in goals (with seven) and has a team-best 23 points.

Rutgers outshot UMass Lowell 16-8 on the day and had a 9-4 advantage in corners. However, the River Hawks had flipped the offensive advantage in the second half, with UMass Lowell outshooting RU 6-4 after halftime and with a 3-0 advantage in corners following intermission.

Rutgers had command of possession and the offense in the outset. The team broke through early in the second quarter.  A great ball from Kara Heck set up the play. Guillermina Causarano collected it, engaged with and drew the home goalkeeper out of her stance. She then flipped a shot over the top to provide the score.

RU earned a series of untimed corners at the end of the opening half as the visitors pushed for another score but were unable to convert. Overall, the Scarlet Knights had the majority of pressure in the first half, with a 12-2 advantage in shots and 9-1 margin in corners.

In the third quarter, UMass Lowell equalized. Off a quick buildup, Karlijn Kerkhof entered the circle with space in front and put home a shot that gave the River Hawks their first goal on their first shot on goal off the day.

With eight minutes to play in the fourth, the home team pressed for a goal with a pair of corners. RU goalkeeper Sophia Howard came up big with a stick save to steer away the second River Hawks attempt and preserve the tie. Ultimately, sixty minutes would not be enough, and the game headed into overtime. RU held a 16-6 lead in shots in regulation, but the scoreboard was even at 1-1.

In overtime, the home team pressed quickly and scored in the first 90 seconds of extra time.
 
Postgame Notes

• Causarano tied for the team lead in goals with her seventh tally of the year. It marked her first goal since September 22 versus Princeton (seven-game span).
  • The goal was the 23^rd of her career. She has the eighth most goals in history, just one shy of tying Linde van Schaik for seventh.
• Rutgers and UMass Lowell played for the first time in the two programs' history. The River Hawks moved up to Division I in 2013.
• UMass Lowell entered the game undefeated at home this season and 26-4 in their past 30 home games.
• It was the 10^th RU game this year determined by a one goal margin.
• Rutgers played its fourth game of the year into overtime.

 
Up Next
Rutgers will head to the Big Ten Tournament, which starts on Thursday in College Park, Maryland. The Scarlet Knights earned the No. 4 seed, and will face No. 5 seed Ohio State in the Quarterfinals, with an 11 a..m game Thursday. With a win, RU would play No. 1 seed Northwestern in Friday's 1 pm Semifinal.