University of Louisville
Rutgers
Women's Lacrosse Falls at Rutgers
April 13, 2012 | Women's Lacrosse
April 13, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's lacrosse team fell to Rutgers, 16-11, on Friday evening at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.
The Scarlet Knights (8-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) opened the game with five unanswered goals. Stephanie Anderson and Brittany Davis each scored to begin the game, and then Lauren Sbrilli added consecutive tallies to put the Scarlet Knights ahead, 4-0. Lindsey Watts capped the run with a goal at the 22:29 mark.
Louisville responded with a run of its own. Cat Gordon sparked the run with her 11th score of the year, and after a Rutgers goal, Colleen O'Malley registered the Cardinals' second goal on a pass from Eleni Kozas. Then, Boltja cut the deficit to three with her 43rd goal of the year, and O'Malley brought Louisville within two less than a minute later.
Consecutive goals from Anderson gave Rutgers a four-goal lead at 8-4 heading into the final seconds of the half. O'Malley had an opportunity to cut the advantage to three, earning a free-position shot with eight seconds remaining, but Rutgers' goalie Lily Kalata made an impressive save to preserve the lead.
Jamie Redding scored her lone goal of the game to begin the half and bring Louisville (3-9, 1-4) to within three, 8-5. Rutgers pushed its lead to six, though, as Ali Steinberg had back-to-back goals and Sbrilli found the back of the net on a free position shot.
While the Cardinals' defense kept the Scarlet Knights off the scoreboard for the next 10 minutes, Louisville's offense was held to just two goals. Hillary Bushway registered her lone goal of the game, and Boltja scored one of her team-high four goals a minute later with an unassisted tally at the 16:35 mark, closing the gap to four at 11-7. After Louisville and Rutgers traded goals, the Scarlet Knights found the back of the net twice for another six-goal advantage.
Louisville scored three of the final five goals of the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit. Boltja had two of those goals, and while both were on free-position shots, the Cardinals converted only four of their 10 attempts.
Janaye Dzikewich led the defense with four caused turnovers and, as a team, the Cardinals recorded 12 for the game. Redding had a team-best three caused turnovers and was one of four to finish with at least two. Cat Gordon won six draw controls, pushing her season total to 56, while Monica Negron registered four.
Collectively, the Cardinals won the ground ball battle, 13-11, and outshot Rutgers, 27-24. Louisville turned the ball over a season-low six times.
Rutgers, which was 17-of-18 on clears and 5-of-6 on free position shots, was led by Anderson's five goals and Kalata's 14 saves in goal.
The Cardinals return to action on Sunday, April 15, at Villanova. First draw at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pa., is set for 1 p.m.
