Rutgers Upset Bid Falls Short vs. No. 16 Hoyas

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 1, 2011) – Senior attacker Katherine Marino (Hillsborough, N.J.) led the Scarlet Knights with two goals and three assists as Rutgers (9-7, 3-5 Big East) saw its upset bid fall short against No. 16 Georgetown (9-7, 7-1 Big East) on Sunday, May 1 at Yurcak Field.

Rutgers honored its six graduating seniors – Marino, Kristen Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.), Eileen Ghent (Silver Springs, Md.), Shawn Lopez (Monkton, Md.), Mary Moran (Florence, N.J.), Marlena Welsh (Jarrettsville, Md.) – in a pregame ceremony.

The battle between Rutgers and Georgetown was a tight affair throughout, evident by the seven ties and five lead changes. In addition to Marino, Anderson and freshman midfielder Lauren Sbrilli (Martinsville, N.J.) each tallied a pair of goals against the Hoyas to help lead the Rutgers effort.

Georgetown got out to a 2-0 lead but the Scarlet Knights responded with back-to-back goals from Anderson and Sbrilli. The two teams traded goals over the final five minutes of the first half – with Sbrilli finding her second score of the day – as the game remained knotted at 3-3 at halftime.

The Hoyas struck first in the second half to pull ahead 4-3; however, the Scarlet Knights took over the lead with two goals from Marino to make it 5-4. A 2-0 run by the Hoyas swung the momentum and advantage back to their favor with a 6-5 edge.

Lopez tied the game at 6-6 with a goal at the 20 minute mark but Georgetown moved ahead again with another score four minutes later (7-6).

The Scarlet Knights made a push for the win, scoring two goals in a one minute span, including the go-ahead tally at 10:33. Anderson posted her second score of the game, followed by junior midfielder Ali Steinberg (Suffern, N.Y.) who gave RU a one-goal lead at 8-7.

Georgetown tied the score for the final time at 8-8 and went on to seal the victory, scoring a goal with two minutes left to play.

* * * *

WASHINGTON – No. 16 Georgetown (9-7, 7-1 Big East) won a share of the Big East regular season title on Sunday with a 9-8 victory over Rutgers (9-7, 3-5 Big East) at Yurcak Field. The victory also clinched the top seed in the Big East Tournament which begins Thursday and will be held at Georgetown's Multi-Sport Field.

“We showed a lot of resolve by playing to the end today and I thought we scrapped well,” said Georgetown Head Coach Ricky Fried. “Winning a Big East Regular Season Championship is always special and it's a huge accomplishment for this program.”

The championship didn't come easy as the Scarlet Knights attempted to spoil Georgetown's day. The Blue & Gray started strong as sophomore attacker Dina Jackson (Potomac, Md./Bullis School) hit a free position shot within the first three minutes and freshman midfielder Hannah Franklin (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh School) added another as GU took a 2-0 lead.

The Scarlet Knights had an answer, tying it up at 9:23 before sophomore midfielder Kelsi Bozel (Hunt Valley, Md./Notre Dame Prep) scored at 5:27. Rutgers matched the Blue & Gray in the waning minutes of the half as the teams went into the break tied at three.

Sophomore midfielder Sophia Thomas (Lutherville, Md./Maryvale Prep) started it off in the second half with a goal less than two minutes in. However, Rutgers quickly took its first lead of the contest with a 2-0 run.

The Hoyas came back and moved ahead when Thomas and senior attacker Kathleen Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill./Loyola) both found the back of the cage. The squads traded goals, but another 2-0 Scarlet Knights run gave them the lead with ten minutes remaining on the clock.

1 2    Next  »

2011-05-01