Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, DE -- Casey McCrudden scored three goals, including the game-winner with seven minutes remaining, and assisted on a fourth and goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny (top right) came up big several times in the final minutes as the University of Delaware women's lacrosse squad held on for a 7-6 win over Rutgers in the Blue Hens' season opener Thursday at frigid Rullo Stadium.

The Blue Hens, who also got two goals from Nicole Flego (bottom right), extended their home winning streak to 10 games dating back to the 2006 season.

Delaware jumped out to a 6-2 lead before Rutgers came back to tie things at 6-6. McCrudden's goal with seven minutes left put the Hens in the win column, as Cerveny stopped Rutgers three times from point-blank range over the final 2:43.

The game was played in 27 degree temperatures with a constant 15 mile-per-hour wind.

The Blue Hens jumped out to a quick lead when Flego, a member of the Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American third team, scored on a free-position shot just three minutes into the action. McCrudden netted her first of the year two minutes later, collecting a feed from Katie Muth and burying the ball in the back of the net to double Delaware's advantage.

The Scarlet Knights (0-2, 0-0 Big East) evened the score with goals from Meghan Flanagan and Mary Cryan, but sophomore midfielder Emily Schaknowski put the Hens back in front on a nifty pass from Flego at the 7:46 mark. McCrudden struck again just 48 seconds later, as Muth picked up her second assist of the day.

Delaware kept the momentum through the rest of the period, as freshman midfielder Holly Burman recorded her first collegiate goal on a free-position opportunity three minutes before the halftime horn to put her Hens in command at 5-2.

Flego stayed hot in the cold, rocketing a shot past preseason All-Big East goalkeeper Sandra Abel just eight seconds into the second half. But Rutgers wouldn't go quietly, as the Knights reeled off four consecutive goals in a 14-minute span and knotted the score on Brooke Cantwell's unassisted goal with 9:48 on the clock.

McCrudden wouldn't let Rutgers complete its comeback, ending a 22:52 scoring drought with her third goal of the day. The Scarlet Knights dominated possession in the final minutes, but couldn't break through for the equalizer. Two late RU shots hit the post, while Cerveny stoned Cantwell and Cryan on Rutgers's last serious challenge to preserve the win.

Cerveny finished with 11 saves for Delaware (1-0, 0-0 CAA), which out-shot Rutgers 27-26 and avenged last season's 15-12 loss in Piscataway, NJ.

UD snapped a two-game losing streak against its longtime rival and won its first home opener since 2005 - also a victory over Rutgers.

The Blue Hens return to the field on March 5, when they visit Loyola (MD) at 3 p.m.

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