NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware scored three straight goals to take the lead with 18:37 left to play, but the Blue Hens failed to convert the rest of the way and dropped a 9-8 decision to Rutgers University in women’ s lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at Rullo Stadium.

Rutgers scored two goals in the final four minutes, including the game-winner by Nina Frankoski with just 1:08 left to play, to send the Scarlet Knights (2-1) to the victory as they defeated the Hens for the third time in the last four years. Delaware, coming off an 11-10 overtime win over Denver Tuesday night, fell to 1-2.

Delaware sophomore Amanda Alrich (Notre Dame Prep/Timonium, MD) scored a goal and dished out an assist and Jenny Diana (Robinson/Burke, VA) tallied twice for the Blue Hens while Rutgers got three goals from Kate Shomo and two goals and two assists from Kathryn Lawrence.

Rutgers outshot the Blue Hens 28-19 and held a commanding 15-3 advantage in draw controls. The game featured outstanding play from both goalkeepers as Delaware freshman Jessica Cerveny stopped nine shots in her first collegiate start and Rutgers’ Sandra Abel recorded eight saves.

The game was close throughout the entire contest as neither team ever led by more than two goals the entire day. After Rutgers scored three minutes into the contest, the Hens responded by netting three straight goals, including back-to-back scores by Diana, to go up 3-1 with 17:21 remaining.

Rutgers came back to tie the score at 3-3 on a goal by Shomo with 6:52 left, but the Hens got goals from Debbie Sloan and Alrich just over two minutes apart to go back up 5-3. Shomo scored her second goal of the half with just 2:09 left to narrow the UD margin to 5-4 at the break.

Rutgers scored the first three goals of the second half, the last by Michelle Poole with 21:54 remaining, to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-5 lead, but Delaware responded with three straight of its own, getting goals from Kristin Cellucci with 20:34 left, a game-tying goal from Laura Libertini with 19:40 remaining, and going up 8-7 on Katie Muth’s unassisted goal at the18:37 mark. But Abel stopped the Blue Hens cold the rest of the day.

Rutgers tied the game at 8-8 on a goal by Lawrence with 3:26 remaining and got the game-winner just under two minutes later when Lawrence fed Frankoski with 1:08 left.

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