University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Rutgers
Lacrosse Drops BIG EAST Season Opening Game at Rutgers
4/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
April 3, 2010
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Redshirt junior Lauren Sparks (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore Kiersten Tupper (Camillus, N.Y.) led the University of Connecticut lacrosse team (7-3, 0-1) in scoring in the Huskies 15-10 loss at Rutgers on Saturday. Sparks and Tupper each finished the game with four points while Sparks was one of two UConn players to record a hat trick. Tupper scored once to cut the Huskies' deficit to one goal at 6:59 in the first half and had three assists. Sparks recorded a hat trick for the second-consecutive game and had an assist in the second half.
Sophomore M.E. Lapham (Cazenovia, N.Y.) also had a hat trick for the Huskies, finishing her three-goal effort with less than six minutes remaining in regulation.
The Scarlet Knights opened the game with a five-goal run before Sparks put UConn on the board with 13:40 in the first half. The Huskies first goal sparked a five-goal run that tied the game at the half, 5-5.
Sparks tied it with a free-position goal in the final two minutes of the first half. It was the second time this season that the Huskies have entered the intermission tied.
Lapham's first goal of the game less than six minutes into the second half gave UConn its first lead of the game. Rutgers recovered to take a three-goal edge, scoring four unanswered goals to lead 10-7.
Sparks ended the UConn scoring drought with 16:49 on the clock only to have Rutgers bounce back to a 13-8 edge with less than 15 minutes remaining in regulation. Lapham scored twice in the final 13:38 while the Scarlet Knights kept the Huskies at bay with two goals and held on for the 15-10 victory.
Senior Jenna Moulton (East Rochester, N.Y.) suffered her third loss of the season with four saves and a team-high six ground balls.
The Huskies continue their trek for a conference victory at Georgetown on April 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Game Notes
- UConn is now 2-11 against Rutgers all-time, losing the last five games.
- Both M.E. Lapham and Lauren Sparks have scored three or more goals in three of the last four games played. Saturday's three-goal effort by Lapham extends her goal-scoring streak to 21 games.
- The loss at Rutgers marks just the second time this season that the Huskies have lost on the road.
