STORRS, Conn. (April 11, 2009) – A change of venue did not sit well with the University of Connecticut lacrosse team on Saturday, as the squad lost an 11-6 decision to Rutgers at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. The Huskies fall to 2-12 overall and 2-4 in BIG EAST play while the Scarlet Knights are now 7-5 on the year with a 3-3 record in conference action.

Rutgers capitalized on a two consecutive free-position opportunities to garner a 3-2 lead at 16:19. The Huskies did strike first in the game, off a pair of free-position shots of their own. M.E. Lapham (Cazenovia, N.Y.) hit the back of the net on her first chance of the day. More than 10 minutes later, last season's leader in free-position goals got her fourth of the year. Katy Ryan (Hamburg, N.Y.) scored to give UConn a 2-1 edge.

The Huskies' lead was diminished after two Rutger's free-position goals and another pair Scarlet Knight marks over five minutes in the first half.Three–straight Rutgers' goal led to Connecticut's first timeout with the Scarlet Knights leading 5-2 with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first half as the rain began to steady to a pour.

Possession of the ball turned over three times as each team struggled to maintain control. Rutgers Jennifer Schmitt was able to get a shot away and scored at 11:07 for a four-goal lead. The Huskies continued to convert on free-position chances moments later with Lapham netting her second of the game to cut the advantage in half (6-3).

Kiersten Tupper (Camillus, N.Y.) elected to pass off her free-position chance to Katie Devaney (Fayetteville, N.Y.) waiting in front who scored her fifth of the season. The Huskies trailed 6-4 with less than 10 minutes on the clock in the first half. Whitney Michele (East Rochester, N.Y.) and Tupper scored in UConn's four-goal run that was snapped by Ali Steinberg at 5:46.

Sandra Abel made a pair of instrumental saves on Michele and Tupper. Rutgers ended the half with an 8-6 lead after Schmitt scored on a free-position.

It was a rather uneventful second half as Abel and the Scarlet Knight defense held the Huskies scoreless, making five saves. Jenna Moulton (East Rochester, N.Y.) also made five saves after coming in for starter Anna Wallingford (Littleton, Colo.) at the start of the second stanza.

Schmitt accounted for two of the three Rutgers' goals in the later half of the game, helping the Scarlet Knights to the 11-6 win.

Connecticut caps off the regular season at home on Wednesday, April 15 against Holy Cross. The game is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. as the Huskies return to George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. In addition to the six members of the senior class being acknowledged prior to the first draw, the contest will be televised on tape delay by Cox. The game will air on Sunday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m.

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STORRS, Conn. (April 11, 2009) – Sophomore Jennifer Schmitt (Perry Hall, Md.) scored a career-high four goals to lead the Rutgers women's lacrosse team to a critical 11-6 BIG EAT victory over Connecticut Saturday afternoon at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.

Rutgers, which has won three straight games, improves its overall record to 7-8 and moves into sole possession of fourth place in the BIG EAST with a 3-3 mark. The Huskies fall to 2-12 overall and 2-4 in league play.

The Scarlet Knights were outshot by the Huskies, but converted on 50-pecent of their free-position shots. Connecticut tallied only three goals on 16 free-position attempts.

Connecticut took an early lead, scoring two of the games first three goals, both coming off free-position attempts. Rutgers responded by scoring five consecutive goals from five different players in a six-minute span.

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2009-04-11