PISCATAWAY, N.J. (February 24, 2008) – The Rutgers women's lacrosse team dropped its home opener 21-4 to No. 1 ranked and three-time defending national champion Northwestern Sunday afternoon at the RU Turf Field. RU (0-1) gave up 12 goals in the first half and nine in the second to the Wildcats (2-0), who also held a 39-14 shot advantage.

"They are more athletic than we are and they have more depth," said head coach Laura Brand. "We are a young program and this was a good experience for us. We had some good moments, we just have to build off of those moments."

Sophomore Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.) had six shots-on-goal and scored twice for the Scarlet Knights, who drop to 0-6 all-time against Northwestern. In their first collegiate game, freshmen Kristen Anderson (Wading-River, N.Y.) tallied a goal and Mary Moran (Florence, N.J.) recorded a goal and an assist. NU was led by junior Hannah Nielsen, who finished with four goals and four assists. Sophomore Danielle Spencer also scored four goals for the Wildcats.

Rutgers returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 3:00 p.m.when it travels to Newark, Del., to take on the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.

Score by Period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU.................. 12  9 - 21
Rutgers.............  2  2 -  4
 
Attendance: 300
 
NU SCORING:
GOALS: NIELSEN, Hannah 4; SPENCER, Danielle 4; DONOHOE, Casey 3;
       BOWEN, Hilary 3; MATTHEWS, Brooke 2; JACOBS, Ali 2;
       FOX, Rachel 1; PLUNKETT; Meghan 1; DOWD, Katrina 1.
ASSISTS: NIELSEN, Hannah 4.
 
Rutgers SCORING:
GOALS: CANTWELL, Brooke 2; MORAN, Mary 1; ANDERSON, Kristen 1.
ASSISTS: FLANAGAN, Meghan 1; MORAN, Mary 1.
 
SHOTS BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU.................. 23 16 - 39
Rutgers.............  6  8 - 14
 
GROUND BALLS BY PRD   1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU..................  5  7 - 12
Rutgers.............  7  7 - 14
 
DRAW CONTROLS BY PRD  1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU.................. 12  6 - 18
Rutgers.............  2  5 -  7
 
CLEARS BY PERIOD       1     2     Total
----------------------------------------
NU..................  7-9   5-7  - 12-16
Rutgers.............  4-7   4-7  -  8-14
 
SAVES BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU..................  2  4 -  6
Rutgers.............  4  5 -  9
 
FOULS BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU..................  6  8 - 14
Rutgers.............  2  6 -  8
 
TURNOVERS BY PRD      1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
NU.................. 10  5 - 15
Rutgers............. 10 10 - 20

2008-02-24