WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University women's lacrosse team fell to in-state opponent Rutgers 11-6 on Wednesday afternoon at Kessler Field. The loss drops the Hawks' to 5-2, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 5-1.

MU's offense was led by Carolyn Raveia (Fairfax, Va. /W.T. Woodson) who scored two goals. Monmouth is now 0-5 against Rutgers all-time.

Rutgers, ranked 17th in the nation coming into the game, took the first lead when Michelle Poole scored in the first eight and half minutes, but Monmouth's Ali Pollock (Watervliet, N.Y./Shaker) answered to tie the game at 1-1. RU would score four straight goals before Katie Degen (Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore) scored to cut their lead to 5-2 at the 8:17 mark of the first half. Raveia tallied a goal before Megan Nutter (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) intercepted a goalie pass, crossed over at the ten-yard mark and deposited a goal as well, but MU stilled trailed 8-4 at the half.

The second half scoring was much slower compared to the first half, as Raveia cut the RU lead to 9-6 with 24:05 left in the game. Perry DeWitt (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) answered a RU goal at the 16:33 mark, but MU would fail to score for the remainder of the game as Rutgers would add two more goals for the 11-6 final.

RU outshot Monmouth 30-24, including 19-10 in the opening period, where they also won nine draw controls compared to four for Monmouth. The Hawks' committed 25 fouls in the game, compared to 25 for Rutgers.

Monica Johnson (Radnor, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) made nine saves in net, but lost her second decision of the season. Degen also accounted for four groundballs, as did teammate Jessica Picciuto (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex Regional). Nutter added two groundballs, two draw controls and three caused turnovers for MU.

The Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 17 when they travel to take on Stony Brook at 4:00 p.m.

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West Long Branch, N.J. (March 14, 1007) –Senior Katie Batiuk (Jackson, N.J.) and sophomore Michelle Poole (Hackettstown, N.J.) scored three goals each to push Rutgers to an 11-6 victory at Monmouth in women’s lacrosse action on Wednesday.

Sophomore Nina Frankoski (Maplewood, N.J.) had a pair of goals and Meghan Flanagan (Medford, N.J.) tallied four assists to move the Scarlet Knights to a 5-1 ledger on the season.

Rutgers led from the start with Poole scoring eight minutes into the contest. The Hawks answered to tie the contest but could get no closer. The Scarlet Knights erupted for four unanswered scored by four different players to take a commanding 5-1 advantage with 13:55 showing in the first half.

Monmouth closed to three twice in the final eight minutes of the half as a score by Carolyn Raveia pulled the Hawks to 6-3. Rutgers responded with a pair of goals, Poole scored on the first and assisted on the second to teammate Brooke Cantwell. Rutgers led 8-4 at the half, holding a 19-10 shot advantage.

The Hawks got within three (9-6) following a goal by Perry DeWitt. The RU sophomore tandem of Frankoski and Poole closed the contest with a 2-0 run to seal the road win.

With the victory, RU improved to 5-0 over in-state rival Monmouth. The Scarlet Knights are idle until March 21 when they host Hofstra at 4:00 p.m.

Rutgers 8 3 - 11
Monmouth 4 2 – 6

Rutgers Scoring:
GOALS: POOLE, Michelle 3; BATIUK, Katie 3; FRANKOSKI, Nina 2; CANTWELL, Brooke 1; LAWRENCE, Katy 1; TORNETTA, Mallory 1.
ASSISTS: FLANAGAN, Meghan 4; CANTWELL, Brooke 2; POOLE, Michelle 1

Monmouth Scoring: GOALS: RAVEIA, Carolyn 2; DEGEN, Katie 1; DEWITT, Perry 1; NUTTER, Megan 1; POLLOCK, Ali 1.
ASSISTS: None.

2007-03-14