April 18, 2008

By Sam Hellman Daily Targum

April 18, 2008

New Brunswick, NJ (UWIRE) -- The Rutgers women's lacrosse team stayed close to Temple the whole game, but a double overtime goal from Temple's Whitney Richards with 1:09 left on the clock was too much for the Scarlet Knights to come back from.

Both junior attack Nini Frankoski and junior midfielder Michelle Poole took shots in the last minute of the game, but could not connect as RU fell Wednesday night to the Owls 10-9 in their final non-conference game of the season.

Rutgers was behind 6-3 going into the second half, but started to heat up after Temple extended their lead to 7-3 with a goal in the opening minutes.

The Scarlet Knights rallied off four consecutive goals to tie the game at seven. Sophomore attack Brooke Cantwell got the scoring started in the second half, scoring with 26:21 to go.

Freshman attack Kristen Anderson and Poole scored the next two goals for RU, both assisted by sophomore attack Meghan Flanagan.

The Knights then tied the game with a goal from freshman midfielder Jennifer Schmitt with 20:34 left to go in the game.

Just when momentum seemed to be on the side of the Knights, however, Temple fought back with a goal from Berkley Summerlin, putting the Owls in the lead again.

Rutgers then fought back, tying the game with a goal from Schmitt and taking their first lead of the game, 9-8, with another goal from Cantwell.

Summerlin made another critical goal for Temple when she tied the game with a goal, putting the game into overtime where the team eventually won.

Temple jumped off to a 3-0 lead in the first half before Cantwell and Flanagan scored one goal apiece to cut the score to 3-2. Temple shot off three more goals before the half to only one by Rutgers, giving the Owls the lead at half.

Cantwell was the biggest bright spot for Rutgers as she a hat trick on five shots in the game. Flanagan aided the offensive effort with a goal and two assists in the game. Schmitt and freshman midfielder Marlena Welsh provided sparks off the bench with two and on goal respectively.

The Scarlet Knights (7-8) will have to look past the double overtime heart breaker against Temple (10-4) as they finish their season and Big East schedule Sunday with a home game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-5).

Prior to Sunday's matchup with the Irish, the Scarlet Knights will honor senior defender Jessica Fox during the Senior Day Ceremonies.

(C) 2008 Daily Targum via UWIRE