April 28, 2002
Piscataway, N.J. – The 10th-ranked Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team closed out the 2002 BIG EAST schedule with a 9-2 road win at Rutgers University on Sunday afternoon. The win gives the Irish a school-record 11th win of the season and a BIG EAST best fifth win on the year.
Notre Dame goes into its’ regular-season finale on Friday, May 3 versus 12th-ranked Vanderbilt with an 11-4 overall record and a 5-1 mark in BIG EAST play. Rutgers falls to 7-9 on the season and 2-4 in league play. The Irish finish second in the league to Georgetown, as the Hoyas were a perfect 6-0 in league play.
The Irish were led offensively by Danielle Shearer (Hampstead, Md.) as the junior midfielder turned in her second four-point game of the week with two goals and two assists. Senior Alissa Moser (North Wales, Pa.) scored three goals while fellow senior Natalie Loftus (Baltimore, Md.) had two goals and an assist for her three-point game. Sophomores Meredith Simon (Flemington, N.J.) and Lauren Fischer (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored one goal each in the record setting win.
Notre Dame’s stingy defense took over this contest limiting Rutgers to just two goals in the game. Junior goalkeeper Jen White (Annapolis, Md.) gave up both goals, with the second goal coming on a free position shot. White made 13 saves in the victory.
The Irish jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game on goals by Loftus, Shearer (free position) and Moser.
Rutgers cut the lead to 3-1 at the 12:16 mark on a goal by Kate Slotman, but that would be the only goal the Scarlet Knights would get in the half.
Shearer got her second of the game (11:11) with just over 11 minutes left and Loftus (10:08) and Fischer (9:59) made it 6-1 less that two minutes later. Simon closed the first-half scoring at 7-1 with 27 seconds left when she converted a Maureen Henwood (Sr., Marlton, N.J.) pass for her 22nd goal of the season.
The second half was a defensive struggle as just three goals were scored in the half. Rutgers’ Maggie Bopp cut the lead to 7-2 less than six minutes into the second stanza with a free position goal, but that would be the last time the Scarlet Knights would dent the Irish goal.
Moser closed out the scoring with a pair of goals from Moser just 1:06 apart at 6:46 and 5:40.
For the game, the Irish outshot Rutgers 27-23. Lauren Gulota made 10 saves for Rutgers while White turned in her 13-save afternoon.
Notre Dame’s final game of the season versus Vanderbilt will be played at Moose Krause Stadium on Friday, May 3rd with the match beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Game Summary
First-Half Scoring
Team Time Score Goal Assist
ND 23:39 1-0 Natalie Loftus Kathryn Lam
ND 21:33 * 2-0 Danielle Shearer
ND 20:56 3-0 Alissa Moser
RU 17:44 3-1 Kate Slotman Lisa Savage
ND 11:11 4-1 Danielle Shearer – 2
ND 10:08 5-1 Natalie Loftus – 2
ND 9:59 6-1 Lauren Fischer Danielle Shearer
ND 0:27 7-1 Meredith Simon Maureen Henwood
Second-Half Scoring
Team Time Score Goal Assist
RU 24:36 * 7-2 Maggie Bopp
ND 6:46 8-2 Alissa Moser – 2 Natalie Loftus
ND 5:40 9-2 Alissa Moser – 3 Danielle Shearer – 2
* indicates free position goal
Scoring: 1st 2nd Final
Notre Dame (11-4, 5-1) 7 2 9
Rutgers (7-9, 2-4) 1 1 2
Shots on Goal
ND 27
RU 23
Goalkeepers.
ND: Jen White, (60:00 min., 2 goals, 13 saves)
RU: Lauren Gulotta, (60:00 min., 9 goals, 10 saves)