FINAL SCORE
#8/7 Rutgers 11 (2-0)
Monmouth 5 (1-1)

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A strong second half powered the No. 8/7 Rutgers University women's lacrosse team to an 11-5 win over the Monmouth University women's lacrosse team on Wednesday afternoon. 
 
Caroline Brennan had a goal and an assist for the Hawks while Danielle McNeely had a pair of goals. Gia Mitchell finished with a season-high 10 saves in cage. Cassidy Spilis led Rutgers with four goals while Sophia Cardello made eight saves.
 
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first 15 minutes of play. All three goals in the period came in a 58 second span. McNeely sandwiched a pair of goals around a Rutgers tally. 
 
Brennan had a hand in all three goals for the Hawks in the second. The sophomore attacker had a goal and two assists as Monmouth took a 5-4 lead at the break. 
 
Rutgers pushed the tempo in the second half and scored seven times en route to the 11-5 win. Spilis scored twice while Ashley Campo also found the back-of-the-net twice. 

NOTES & QUOTES
"We are really proud of the work our players put in today. We battled all out for 60 minutes with a top 10, in-state rival and I thought there was just tremendous effort from every single member of our team. There were glimmers of what will be excellent lacrosse later in the season and we are looking forward to growing from this game and getting back on the field Saturday against Navy."
- Head Coach Jordan Trautman

- Monmouth registered 10 caused turnovers for the second straight game.
- The Hawks registered a season-high 19 ground balls in the contest. 
- Rutgers was the first of three opponents for the Hawks that currently ranked in the IWLCA Poll (Rutgers, Johns Hopkins and Stony Brook).
- MU was effective on the clear, as the Hawks were successful on 19-of-23 attempts. 

 NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Danielle McNeely had a team-high two goals in the game and has now scored a goal in seven straight games.
- Caroline Brennan finished with a team-high three points on a goal and two assists. She has a goal in 18 straight games and a point in 20 straight contests. 
- Gia Mitchell became the first Hawk to record 10 or more saves in a game since Madi Bednarik had 11 against Fairfield last May.
- Brianna Falco had four caused turnovers and five ground balls in the game. She has now recorded four caused turnovers in back-to-back games. 
- Cassidy Orban led the Hawks with five draw controls and added four ground balls and two caused turnovers. 

NEXT UP
Monmouth is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 18 when it hosts Navy at 10 a.m.