SYRACUSE, NY - The Rutgers field hockey team (2-4) was unable to extend its two-match win streak as No. 8 Michigan State (6-1) picked up a 12-1 win against the Scarlet Knights in the final day of the BIG EAST/ Big Ten Challenge on Coyne Field in Syracuse, NY.

The Spartans struck early, as Cynthia Martin scored 1:07 into the game. The Spartans took a 6-0 lead into the half as Martin scored two more goals and Michele Huynh-Ba, Michelle Carstens and Annabet Beerman each added one goal. Junior goalkeeper Stacey Gaenzle (Lancaster, PA) made 10 saves in the first half for Rutgers while sophomore Tiffany Klebez (Milford, PA) made her first career defensive save.

Michigan State continued to hold Rutgers scoreless, extending its lead to 9-0 before the Scarlet Knights got on the scoreboard. Sophomore Mary Szymonowicz (Piscataway, NJ), a transfer from Kent State, scored her first goal as a Scarlet Knight, unassisted, at the 53:12 mark. The Spartans went on to score three more unanswered goals to finish the match with a 12-1 win. Gaenzle finished with a career-high 20 saves in goal for RU, facing 42 shots by the Spartans. Christina Kirkaldy and Lauren Hess split time in goal for MSU, making three saves of Rutgers five shots on goal.

The Scarlet Knights will open the BIG EAST Conference season when they host Syracuse in the Rutgers’ home
opener on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. at the Rutgers Stadium Complex.

SCORING SUMMARY

Rutgers 0 1 1
Michigan State 6 6 12

1:07 MSU Cynthia Martin 0-1
9:44 MSU Michelle Huynh-Ba 0-2
25:42 MSU Michelle Carstens (Sophie Rosmalen) 0-3
30:04 MSU Martin 0-4
32:50 MSU Annabet Beerman (Martin, Jenny Sanders) 0-5
35:00 MSU Martin (Beerman) 0-6

37:55 MSU Breanna Harpstead (Beerman) 0-7
38:00 MSU Judith van Haeringen (Sanders, Alexandra
Kyser) 0-8
48:38 MSU van Haeringen (Sanders, Kyser) 0-9
53:12 RU Mary Szymonowicz 1-9
56:05 MSU Julia Adams 1-10
64:50 MSU Hyunh-Ba 1-11
69:14 MSU van Haeringen 1-12

Saves:
RU - Stacey Gaenzle (20)
MSU - Christina Kirkaldy (1); Lauren Hess (2)

Shots on Goal:
RU - 5
MSU - 42

Penalty Corners:
RU - 4 (no goals)
MSU -14 (3 goals)

Defensive Saves:
RU - 1
MSU - 0