Blue Hens Drop Home Opener to No. 17/16 Rutgers

Saturday, February 12

Newark, Del.

11 a.m.

University of Delaware

0-1

Rutgers

1-0

DELAWARE

Photo by: Mark Campbell

2/12/2022 2:24:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. - The Delaware women's lacrosse team's fourth-quarter surge wasn't enough to come back against No. 17/16 Rutgers as the Blue Hens fell, 16-8, to the Scarlet Knights in their season opener.

After an early goal by Rutgers' Marin Hartshorn in the first two minutes of the game, Danika Swech drove through the left side of the 8-meter and netted the first goal of the 2022 season to tie the game.

The Scarlet Knights then scored three unanswered goals before Riley Gillin scored the Blue Hens' second goal of the game with under two minutes left in the first quarter. Rutgers added another goal with under 30 seconds left on the clock, ending the first quarter with a three-goal lead.

Rutgers scored five straight goals in the second quarter, making the score 10-2 at the end of the first half. Mercy McCarthy entered the game midway through the second quarter, making two saves to end the first half.

Four minutes into the third quarter, Danielle Livornese lost her defender and cut right through the middle of the 8-meter, scoring on a give-and-go from Gillin. The Scarlet Knights then went on a scoring run once more, netting five straight goals to end the third quarter up 15-3.

Rutgers' Emalie Clothier scored three minutes into the fourth quarter on what would be the Scarlet Knights' final goal of the game before the Blue Hens lit up the scoreboard with five straight goals.

Livornese fed Lizzie Hsu in the middle of the 8-meter and Hsu was able to get around both of her defenders to hit the back of the net. Jenna McHale cut through the left side of the 8-meter with another give-and-go from Gillin to make the score, 16-5.

Freshman Keira Grant cut through the middle of the 8-meter, receiving a feed from behind the cage from fellow freshman Delaney McDaniel and faked the goalie high to beam it in the back of the net.

Gillin netted her second goal of the day on a feed from McDaniel, crossing through the 8-meter and hitting a non-stick side low shot. Hsu closed out the scoring by taking on two defenders on the right side of the 8-meter and finishing her shot for her second goal of the game.

Offensively, Gillin led the way for the Blue Hens with four points (2g, 2a). Three other players notched two points including Livornese (1g, 1a), McDaniel (2a) and Hsu (2g). McCarthy made seven saves in goal and finished with a .467 save percentage.

The Blue Hens travel to Philadelphia for a road game at Penn on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.

For the latest on the Delaware women's lacrosse program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareWLax and Instagram @DelawareWLax and like "University of Delaware Women's Lacrosse" on Facebook.