SYRACUSE, NY - The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team (6-3, 0-2 BIG EAST) came back from an early five-goal deficit but was unable to upset No. 8 Syracuse (8-2, 5-1 BIG EAST) as the Scarlet Knights lost, 8-6, in BIG EAST play Saturday.

The Orangewomen jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of play, led by Jessica Bell’s two goals. Rutgers answered with a four-goal run of its own when senior Melissa Mosey (Skaneateles, NY) scored back-to-back goals, followed by single goals from junior Cristina Curiale (Summit, NJ) and senior Claire Grooms (Camillus, NY). Syracuse added two more goals before the close of the half, but Mosey brought the Knights to within two when she scored on a free-position shot to make the score 7-5 at the break.

The defense took over in the second half, each allowing only one goal. The Scarlet Knights narrowed the Orangewomen’s lead to one when junior Cali Wojdyla (Liverpool, NY) scored early in the second half, but SU’s Monica Joines scored the final tally of the afternoon with 24:02 to play. Syracuse picked up the BIG EAST win, 8-6.

Rutgers’ goalie Lyndsey Feldman (Ft. Myers, FL), the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, made 13 saves in cage while Syracuse’s Carla Gigon made 10 saves.

Rutgers will begin a six-game homestand on Wednesday, April 9, as the Scarlet Knights host No. 14 Yale at 3 p.m. on Yurcak Field.

SCORING SUMMARY
1 2 F
Rutgers 5 1 6
Syracuse 7 1 8

26:30 SU Leigh-Ann Zimmer 0-1
25:33 SU Jessica Bell (Kim Wayne) 0-2
22:28 SU Wayne (Zimmer) 0-3
22:18 SU Bell 0-4
20:20 SU Monica Joines (free position) 0-5
18:48 RU Melissa Mosey 1-5
15:47 RU M. Mosey (free position) 2-5
15:24 RU Cristina Curiale 3-5
11:02 RU Claire Grooms 4-5
9:27 SU Jessica Trombley (Wayne) 4-6
7:54 SU Zimmer 4-7
4:09 RU M. Mosey (free position) 5-7
27:21 RU Cali Wojdyla 6-7
24:02 SU Joines 6-8

Saves:
RU - Lyndsey Feldman (13)
SU - Carla Gigon (10)

Shots on Goal:
RU - 20
SU - 29

Draw Controls:
RU - 5
SU - 11

Caused Turonvers:
RU - 5
SU - 5

Ground Balls:
RU - 9
SU - 15