Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Cornell women's lacrosse rallied from several deficits but could never gather the lead and dropped an 8-6 decision to Rutgers on Sunday afternoon in its season opener on the RU Turf Field. Rutgers improved to 2-0 on the season.

The Big Red held a 20-14 edge in shots, but Scarlet Knight goalkeeper Lily Kalata had 10 saves to help the home team to the victory. Kristen Anderson had a game-high three goals and an assist in the victory for Rutgers, while Lindsey Watts scored twice.

For the Big Red, sophomore Olivia Knotts and junior Libby Johnson each scored two goals, while Jessi Steinberg had a goal and an assist. Both Shannon McHugh and Kaitlyn Giles won three ground balls, with McHugh adding a team-best four draw wins. Lindsey Kane and Caroline Helmer also had three caused turnovers apiece as Cornell forced 19 Rutgers turnovers on the day. Goalkeeper Kristen Reese made six saves in the loss.

Rutgers jumped out to a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes behind two goals by Anderson. Libby Johnson scored Cornell's first two goals of the year, while a Kate Dewey goal with 5:39 left in the first sent the visitors into halftime trailing by one (4-3).

Cornell tied the score on a goal by Steinberg, whose sister suited up for the Scarlet Knights, just under three minutes into the second half, but Anderson found Brooke Cantell four minutes later to put the home team up by one. The Big Red answered with a goal by Olivia Knotts to even the score at 5-5, but Anderson again responded. She scored consecutive goals five minutes apart to make it 7-5, and Lindsey Watts made it 8-5 with seven minutes to play. Knotts scored her second goal of the game just 50 seconds later, but could not get another goal to put the pressure on the Scarlet Knights.

The Big Red will be back in action at Colgate on Wednesday, March 3 at 4 p.m. at Tyler's Field in Hamilton, N.Y.