PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 22 Rutgers women's lacrosse (5-2, 0-1) lost an overtime heartbreaker to Penn State (3-4, 1-0), 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium. Down two goals with just over seven minutes to play, Graduate student Cassidy Spilis scored back-to-back goals to force sudden victory. However, the Nittany Lions won the opening draw of extra time and followed with the game-winning goal from Gretchen Gilmore.

Spilis finished with a game-high five goals along with four ground balls, three caused turnovers and two draw controls. Her five points moved her past Denise Reed for the second most points in program history, as the Tabernacle, New Jersey, native needs 31 points to become the program's all-time leader in points scored.

Battling cold and wet conditions throughout the afternoon, the Scarlet Knights forced Penn State into 17 turnovers, but the visitors used a 29-20 shot advantage to secure the win.

Junior Victoria Goldrick dished out a game-high three assists, while senior Ashley Moynahan and sophomores Kayleigh Coughlin, Lily Dixon and Ava Kane all added goals. Junior Emalie Clothier caused two turnovers and scooped up two ground balls.

Rutgers raced to a 4-0 lead through the first 15 minutes, as Goldrick found Spilis at the 10:19 mark in the opening quarter for the game's first goal. Kane and Moynahan followed, while Spilis second score of the day off another Goldrick assist made it 4-0 Scarlet Knights heading into the second.

Penn State outscored RU, 6-3, in the second quarter, but Rutgers held pace with the visitors to hold its lead at halftime. Tied 6-6 with just 16 seconds left before the first break, Coughlin netted an unassited goal to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-6 lead heading into the locker room.

PSU held RU scoreless in the third quarter, scoring two consecutive goals to take a 9-7 advantage in the final 15 minutes of play. Offense continued to be at a premium down the stretch, with Spilis breaking a 13-minute scoreless streak with her 30th goal of the season. Spilis followed with her fifth off a pass from Dixon with 1:24 to go to tie the game before the overtime period.

Up Next
Rutgers hosts No. 6 Michigan on Thursday, March 14 at SHI Stadium.