April 3, 2018 Box Score
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Junior Jane Kirby netted her 100th career goal as the Lafayette women's lacrosse team fought in a tight loss to Rutgers on Tuesday evening in New Brunswick, N.J., falling by a final of 12-9.
Kirby had a big night for the Maroon and White in addition to her century-mark milestone. The Morristown, N.J. native registered six points to lead the Leopards offensively with four goals and two assists.
The Leopards could've gone away a couple of times in Tuesday's contest, but remained resilient through the final buzzer. Lafayette cut a deficit as high as six to three on three different occasions during the second half, but couldn't find the run to swing it in its favor. The loss drops the Maroon and White to 4-7 overall on the year, while Rutgers improves to 6-7.
Bella Alampi opened the scoring in the game just two minutes in on a feed from Kirby, but Rutgers responded with three straight and five of the next six to take a 5-2 lead into the final six minutes of the opening half. The teams traded tallies over the final stretch to take the game into intermission at 6-3.
Rutgers made its move at the start of the second stanza as three straight goals forced a timeout from Lafayette head coach Alison Fisher with the deficit at its largest, six, with 22:44 to play. That break worked as Kirby scored a pair and the Leopards went on a 4-1 spurt to pull within three at 10-7 with 14:08 to go.
The final 14 minutes were evenly played, though, as Lafayette couldn't find an advantage. Each team netted two more goals during that time as the clock sounded on a 12-9 final.
Behind Kirby's career night, junior Hannah Davey was the only other multi-goal scorer with a pair. Alampi, senior co-captain Kristin Schaen and junior Emma Novick rounded out the scoring with one apiece.
Overall, shots and ground balls both finished even at 26-26 and 18-18, respectively. Lafayette won the draw-control battle, 13-10, but committed 21 turnovers and forced 15.
The Leopards return to Patriot League play on Saturday, hosting Army at Fisher Stadium with opening draw set for 1 p.m.
