University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Defeats Rutgers in Overtime
4/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, CT (April 13) – Heather Bliss (Tully, NY) scored the game-winning goal in the overtime period to lift the University of Connecticut women’s lacrosse team past Rutgers University, 12-11, on Saturday afternoon in a BIG EAST match-up at Morrone Stadium in Storrs. UConn improved its record to 5-5 overall, 2-2 in the BIG EAST, while Rutgers fell to 6-7 overall, 1-3 in the conference.
UConn held the lead for the entire first half but Rutgers made a late run to keep the game close. Connecticut’s Bliss opened the scoring 21-seconds into the contest. Rutgers’ Kate Slotman evened the score 15-seconds later tying the game for the first and only time in the half. UConn scored the next four goals taking the 5-1, on two scores from Tracy Mullaney (Cockeysville, MD), and one each from Bliss and Abbey VanDeusen (Fayetteville, NY). Rutgers brought the score within one with 10-minutes left in the half, followed by three Husky goals giving UConn the 8-4 halftime lead. Mullaney and two scores from Pam Lowie (Cortland, NY) ended the half.
The Scarlet Knights came out strong in the second half scoring six goals to push ahead 10-8. Cristina Curiale scored two goals and an assist and Maggie Bopp had two goals during the Rutgers run. UConn’s Kelly Feeley (Collingswood, NJ) broke the Scarlet Knights’ run at the 18:48 mark on a free position shot to come with in one goal. With just over five minutes remaining Rutgers took the two goal lead again, only to have Lowie cut the scoring deficit to one on a free position shot 40-seconds later. Lowie scored her fourth goal of the day to tie the score at 11-11 with 1:18 left in regulation. With 20-seconds left, Rutgers missed a free position shot on a save by UConn goalie Jennifer Wong (Greenwood Village, CO).
The teams played scoreless through the two overtimes. UConn’s Lowie had a free position shot with 20-seconds left in the second OT, but the sent the shot sailing over the top of the goal. Bliss’ goal came with a 1:20 left in the last overtime period to give the Huskies the 12-11 victory.
Connecticut’s Lowie finished the day with four goals and Mullaney and Bliss each scored three. Rutgers’ Missy Mosey netted five shots and Bopp and Curiale each scored two goals.
April Pollock (North Syracuse, NY) stopped 10 shots and allowed 10 goals playing into the second half. Wong came into the game with 16-minutes remaining in regulation making five saves and allowed one goal. RU’s Lauren Gulotta stopped 17 shots on 12 goals.
Connecticut will host Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 17 at 4 pm at Morrone Stadium.
