PISCATAWAY, N.J.- No. 17 Rutgers field hockey had an in-state battle on Sunday afternoon in front of a large group of young fans on Youth Field Hockey Day. The Scarlet Knights saw captain Paulina Niklaus score twice, but No. 18 Monmouth came away with a 4-2 victory over the home squad.
 
Monmouth improved to 6-1 to start the season with the win, while RU fell to 4-4. All four of RU's losses are to ranked teams, as the Scarlet Knights are 1-4 against ranked foes through the first eight games in the season. Two of the next four opponents and six of the final nine regular season opponents are currently ranked.
 
The Hawks, who pushed Rutgers into double-overtime last season and also defeated Big Ten foe Iowa on the road in 2024, have won 10 of their past 13 games dating back to last season and earned their fourth lifetime win over a Big Ten school.
 
Monmouth had a 16-12 advantage in shots, placing 14 of those 16 on goal, compared to five shots on goal for the Scarlet Knights. Corners were even at 6-6.
 
Goalkeeper Emily Nicholls made 10 saves for the Scarlet Knights. She had 56 saves on the season, leading the Big Ten.
 
Monmouth took the lead quickly with two first quarter goals. First, Emily Singer got behind the defense and lifted a shot up over the goalkeeper and into the cage. Then just under two minutes later, the Hawks scored off a penalty corner to take a 2-0 lead, redirecting in a bouncing ball in the air for the tally.
 
The Scarlet Knights had a big opportunity in the opening quarter to cut into the lead. RU was awarded a penalty stroke, and Puck Winter appeared to have scored it, but the referees ruled that she had illegally stepped in front of the ball while taking the stroke and waived off the score. As such, the score would remain 2-0 in favor of the visitors heading into halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Rutgers struck early with Paulina Niklaus scoring her first goal in a multi-goal day. Niklaus carried the ball down the sideline, passed the defense to enter the circle, and beat the goalkeeper for the score.
 
However, Monmouth answered back with the next two goals. First, it was Millia Frye connecting on a penalty corner with a sweeping shot for a 3-1 lead. Then, Eulalie Brouwers put home a rebound to make the score 4-1 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Niklaus added another tally in the fourth with a strong individual play, cutting through the defense and sending it home. However, RU would not establish enough late momentum to inspire a late comeback attempt and fell by a 4-2 final margin.
 
Up Next
 
RU is back at home for two games next weekend. The Scarlet Knights host Ohio State on Friday at 3 p.m. in the Big Ten opener against a Buckeyes squad currently ranked No. 14 in the nation. Then on Sunday, Columbia visits for a 1 p.m. contest.