Feb. 28, 2007
Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - On the road against a nationally-ranked program, Villanova (1-1) was defeated 19-6 on Wednesday night by No. 19 Rutgers (2-0) at the RU Turf Field. The Scarlet Knights, in their home opener, built an 11-5 margin at halftime and never saw that lead threatened in the second half.
The Wildcats fell behind 3-0 in the opening five minutes of the contest before sophomore Shannon Sullivan (Park Ridge, Ill.) scored at the 24:45 mark to make the score 3-1. Minutes later, though, Rutgers tacked on two more goals 30 seconds apart. Senior Christina Bahrs (Oceanport, N.J.) scored her first goal of the game to make the score 5-2 midway through the opening period, but the Scarlet Knights scored three unanswered goals and eventually build the margin to 11-3 late in the half.
Bahrs and sophomore Katie Stone (Garden City, N.Y.) scored two goals apiece for Villanova, while senior Jessica Brozena (West Long Branch, N.J.) had eight saves in the game. The Wildcats were outshot 35-21 in the game and went only 3-of-11 on free-position opportunities. Rutgers converted 4-of-6 free-position shots.
Sophomore Taylor Lucy (Ocean View, Del.) and Stone netted goals 22 seconds apart late in the first half that made the score 11-5 at the intermission. The Scarlet Knights, however, registered the first five goals of the second half to put the game out of reach.
Villanova tallied 15 draw controls and held a 15-12 edge over Rutgers. Stone and junior Laura Garrett (Catonsville, Md.) each had four draw controls to lead the team. The Wildcats had just 13 ground balls in the game but allowed just 16 to the Scarlet Knights. Freshman Cassie Eure (Hebron, Md.) played the final seven minutes of the game in net and had one save in her collegiate debut.
Four different players had at least three goals for Rutgers, including a game-high five scores for Brooke Cantwell. Nina Frankoski added three goals and three assists, while Erika Paige had eight saves in 41 minutes in goal.
The Wildcats are back in action at 1 p.m. Sunday against Drexel.
