Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- Despite outscoring Rutgers University, 8-6, in the second half, the University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team dropped their second one-goal decision of the season at Rullo Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Delaware (1-2 overall) fell to Rutgers (4-0 overall), 12-11.

A strong 6-3 first half advantage helped the Scarlet Knights to edge by the Blue Hens. Delaware has dropped both of its home contests this season by a score of 12-11.

The teams opened the game as they exchanged goals three times, to knot the game at 7:42, but Rutgers netted four consecutive to close out the half with a three-goal advantage, and never trail again.

Delaware chanced a come-back against the undefeated Scarlet Knights as the Blue Hens recorded four of the final five scores, but time expired before UD could complete the feat.

The Scarlet Knights were led by senior Brooke Cantwell with three goals and a pair of assists, while sophomore Annie McGinley, senior Mary Cryan, sophomore Brittany Davis and junior Marlena Welsh each recorded two goals.

Delaware got a second-half hat-trick from sophomore Stephanie Allen (top right) who led UD, and two goals and two assists from both junior Corrine Drost and senior Emily Schaknowski (bottom left).

Delaware outshot RU, 30-24, though Rutger’s goalkeeper, freshman Lily Kalata made 13 stops to the two that Delaware keeper junior Makenzie Worthington saved. Rutgers collected 18 ground balls to Delaware’s 16, though the fouls were the statistic that stood out on the day. There were 71 fouls committed during the game.

Cantwell opened scoring at 27:33 on a Meghan Flanagan assist, before junior Ali Libertini responded with a free position goal for UD. Davis then put the Scarlet Knights back ahead on a free position of her own before Drost again brought the game to a 2-2 draw on a Libertini assist.

Six minutes later Schaknowski netted Delaware’s second straight to give the Hens a 3-2 advantage at 12:26 before Rutgers tallied four consecutive to end the half, 6-3.

Delaware came within two as Drost opened the second frame with a goal on an assist from senior Courtney Aburn, but Rutgers pulled ahead by four as it notched back-to-back scores both on man-down opportunities.

Schaknowski brought the score to 8-5 at 18:31 on a free position goal, but Cantwell reversed it with a Rutgers free position a minute and a half later. Allen then gave the Hens a boost.

Allen used a Schaknowski feed to score at 16:29 before going unassisted just 17 seconds later to bring Delaware within two. But Rutgers answered right back with a pair of their own as the tandem of Cantwell assisting Cryan scored at 12:23 and 11:31.

Delaware closed out the game scoring four of the final five goals.

Libertini capitalized on a Drost assist at 9:53 as the Hens pressured the Rutgers defense before Allen used a Schaknowski pass to bring the game to 11-9 at 6:20. Junior Holly Burman recorded her first goal of the season at 3:33, and another minute ticked off the clock before Welsh netted a free position goal to lead 12-10.

Aburn closed out all scoring with just 25 seconds lingering on the clock to bring the Hens within one, but time ran too short for the UD comeback to ring true.

Delaware will next travel to Loyola (Md.) for a 4 p.m. contest on Tuesday, March 9.

AGATE:

Delaware...........3.....8..........11
Rutgers.............6.....6..........12

Scoring Summary:
DELAWARE - Allen, Stephanie 3 goals-0 assists; Drost, Corrine 2-2; Schaknowski, Emily 2-2; Libertini, Ali 2-1; Aburn, Courtney 1-1; Burman, Holly 1-0.
RUTGERS - Cantwell, Brooke 3-2; McGinley, Annie 2-1; Cryan, Mary 2-0; Welsh, Marlena 2-0; Davis, Brittany 2-0; Anderson, Stephanie 1-0; Flanagan, Megan 0-2; Lopez, Shawn 0-1.

Shots: Delaware - 30, Rutgers - 24; Groundballs: UD - 16, RU - 18; Draw Controls: UD - 11, RU - 14; Clears: UD 11-14, RU 9-12; Fouls: UD - 28, RU - 43; Saves: UD - 2 (Worthington); RU - 13 (Kalata); Turnovers: UD - 15, RU - 19; Attendance: 342.