PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team, which had won three straight games, dropped a 15-6 decision to No. 8 Syracuse Saturday afternoon under sunny skies at Yurcak Field. Junior Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.) scored two goals and added an assist to pace the Scarlet Knights, who drop to 7-9 (3-4 BIG EAST) with the loss.

The game was the final contest of the season for Rutgers, which was eliminated from BIG EAST Championship contention with the loss. Eight Scarlet Knight seniors were honored in pregame ceremonies. The 2009 senior class ends their careers with 33 wins and two BIG EAST Championship appearances.

RU jumped out to a 1-0 lead courtesy of a Nina Frankoski (Maplewood, N.J.) goal, via a Kristen Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.) assist with 28:53 on the first half clock. Unfortunately, the strike would be answered in definitive fashion by the Orange. The visitors scored five consecutive goals to take a 5-1 lead.

The Scarlet Knights battled back, however, reducing their deficit to a lone goal (5-4), after Cantwell found the back of the net twice and assisted hometown teammate Annie McGinley (Moorestown, N.J.) on another goal. Syracuse (12-3, 6-1) scored two additional goals prior to the break to take a 7-4 lead into the intermission.

After the half, the Orange extended their advantage to 12-5, before Michelle Poole (Long Valley, N.J.) tallied an unassisted goal which would be the home squad’s final score of the afternoon.

Christina Dove posted five goals and had an assist to lead Syracuse, which out-shot RU by a 35-22 margin. Sandra Abel (Monrovia, Md.) made 13 saves for Rutgers.