PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 26, 2007) – The Rutgers women's lacrosse team (6-2, 1-1) defeated Old Dominion (3-2), 11-8, on Monday afternoon. Three Scarlet Knights scored two goals apiece and the defense held the Lady Monarchs goalless for nearly 25 minutes in the second half to help secure the victory.

Katie Batiuk (Jackson, N.J.), Katy Lawrence (Pylesville, Md.) and Mary Cryan (Newton Square, Pa.) all had two goals in the game while Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.) and Mallory Tornetta (Kimbertan, Pa.) each finished with two assists. Tornetta also added in a goal.

Old Dominion jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game on goal by Caroline Jacobs. RU responded with a goal less than a minute later by Michelle Poole (Hackettstown, N.J.). Two more goals gave the Scarlet Knights a 3-1 lead but Old Dominion came back to tie the game, 3-3, on goals by Ashley Stanwick and Jessica Noone with over 20 minutes still remaining in the opening half.

The Lady Monarchs took a brief 5-4 lead at the 5:56 mark but two goals by Rutgers in the final minute of the first half gave the Scarlet Knights a slim 6-5 lead at the break.

Rutgers came out strong on both ends of the field in the second half, scoring four unanswered goals to build a 10-5 advantage. The defense also held Old Dominion scoreless for the first 25 minutes of the second half. The Lady Monarchs' offense came alive with just under 5:30 to play as Noone scored her second of the goal of the game to cut the lead to 10-6. Noone and Stanwick then scored two more unanswered goals to pull within two of the lead (10-8).

A fourth yellow card by Old Dominion with one minute remaining left the Lady Monarchs down a player and RU was able to capitalize. With 47 seconds remaining, Lawrence scored to give RU an 11-8 lead and the eventual win.

The Scarlet Knights out shot Old Dominion 29-25, and won 11 draws to the Lady Monarch's nine. RU also committed five fewer turnovers than Old Dominion with just 19 to ODU's 24.

Sandra Abel (Monrovia, Md.) got the start in goal for Rutgers and finished with four saves in the first half before Erika Page (Moorestown, N.J.) entered the game in the second period. Page finished with eight saves and gave up just three goals. Old Dominion goalie Sara Larson made 12 saves. Stanwick and Noone led the Lady Monarchs in scoring with three goals each.

The Scarlet Knights will be back in action when they travel to Temple on Friday, March 30, for a 4:00 p.m. game.

2007-03-26