NEW YORK, NY – The Rutgers field hockey team (3-15, 0-5 BIG EAST) broke a 12-game losing streak this evening with a 3-2 victory at Columbia (3-12), despite driving sleet and hail.

The Scarlet Knights got on the board early when junior back Ashley Recker (Dillsburg, PA) knocked the ball in after a direct penalty corner shot by Kamilah Lalani (West Vancouver, BC) ricocheted off Columbia goalkeeper Molly Starsia-Lasagna’s pads. The Scarlet Knights held the lead through most of the first half, until Courtney Robinson put the Lions on the board with less than two minutes remaining in the half.

In the second half, the Lions were the first to strike when Becky Schatzkin scored off a rebounded shot, giving Columbia a 2-1 advantage. Sophomore Jaime Fraser (Voorhees, NJ) tied the score when she fired a cross from junior Colleen Maniere (Princeton Jct., NJ) into the cage. With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, junior Leann Grondski (Mercerville, NJ) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty stroke, giving the Scarlet Knights the 3-2 victory.

Junior goalkeeper Stacey Gaenzle (Lancaster, PA) finished the evening with seven saves, while Starsia-Lasagna also made seven. The Scarlet Knights outshot the Lions
22-13.

The Scarlet Knights will play the final game of the 2002 season on Tuesday, Nov. 5, when they host Hofstra at 8 p.m. The non-conference contest also will be head coach Ann Petracco’s final match at the helm of the Rutgers field hockey program, since she will retire at the conclusion of the season after 26 years.

SCORING SUMMARY

1 2 F
Rutgers 1 2 3
Columbia 1 1 2

19:42 RU Ashley Recker 1-0
33:18 CU Courtney Robinson 1-1
42:58 CU Becky Schatzkin 1-2
54:34 RU Jaime Fraser (Colleen Maniere) 2-2
66:06 RU Leann Grondski (penalty stroke) 3-2

Goalkeeper Saves:
RU – Stacey Gaenzle (7)
CU – Molly Starsia-Lasagna (7)

Penalty Corners:
RU – 8
CU – 4

Shots on Goal:
RU – 22
CU - 13