PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 20, 2009) – Junior Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.) tallied two goals and added an assist, but the Rutgers women's lacrosse team was unable to hold onto a second half lead, falling to Denver 9-8 at the RU Turf Field Friday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights fall to 3-5 on the year, while the Pioneers improve to 6-4.

Rutgers controlled play early, getting goals from Jennifer Schmitt (Perry Hall, Md.) and Kristen Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.) to take a 2-0 lead. Denver responded though, scoring two of the next three goals to cut the RU lead to one. With less than 10 second remaining in the opening stanza, freshman Ali Steinberg (Suffern, N.Y.) gave the Scarlet Knights the momentum back with her second goal of the year.

The Scarlet Knights would improve on their two-goal halftime lead, scoring four of the first five goals to open the second half. A free-position goal from Marley Welsh (Jarretsville, Md.) at the 22:10 mark would give RU an 8-3 lead.

A stingy Denver defense would hold Rutgers scoreless the remainder of the game and the Pioneers used a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game with 1:30 remaining. Rutgers would have one final attempt to tie the game as freshman Annie McGinley (Moorestown, N.J.) got off a clean shot in front of the cage, but the ball would go wide.

The Scarlet Knights will continue their four-game homestand on Monday, taking on Hofstra at the RU Turf Field at 7:00 p.m.

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The University of Denver women's lacrosse team (6-4) rallied from a five-goal deficit to beat Rutgers University (3-5) 9-8 at RU Turf Field in Piscataway, N.J. on a cloudy Friday afternoon.

Junior Ali Flury (Arnold, Md.) led the Pioneers with five goals, including three during the six-goal rally, to tally 13 goals over the last three games. Freshman goalie Ashley Harman (Boyertown, Pa.) recorded 10 saves between the pipes, including seven in the first period alone. As a team Denver tallied 24 shots and scooped up 25 ground balls.

The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with 26:29 remaining in the first period as Jennifer Schmitt and Kristen Anderson both scored. Denver answered with a goal of its own just 27 seconds later as Flury netted her first of the game on a free position shot to cut the deficit to one.

After allowing Rutgers to jump out to a 3-1 lead with 9:14 remaining, the Pioneers added their final goal of the first period as Becca Steinberg (Millersville, Md.) scored off a pass from Megan Carver (Baltimore, Md.) with 3:18 left to play to pull back within one.

The Scarlet Knights then went on an offensive attack, stringing together four goals to take a 7-2 lead over the Pioneers. The scoring began with 10 seconds remaining in the first period and stretched until the 22:34 mark in the second half as Flury netted her second of the game.

Rutgers scored its eighth and final goal of the game with 22:10 remaining as Merlena Welsh scored on a free position shot and a man-up advantage.

Sparked by a Lauren Ciccomascolo (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) goal with 17:24 left to play, the Pioneers scored six unanswered goals to close out the game. Also contributing during the scoring barrage was Flury with three goals, Steinberg with her second of the game and Carver with her first.

Denver returns to action this Sunday, March 22, as it hosts St. Mary's College at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium at 1:00 p.m.

2009-03-20