#19 UAlbany Field Hockey Opens Up 2012 Season With 3-2 Loss At Rutgers

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics Piscataway, N.J. - Kristi Troch made five saves in the cage for UAlbany, but the 19th-ranked Great Danes dropped their 2012 season opener to Rutgers, 3-2, at the Bauer T&F Complex on Friday afternoon. UAlbany got goals from freshmen Liza Morgan and Jessica Longstreth in the loss. Rutgers came out firing, scoring just one minute into play on an unassisted tally by Danielle Freshnock. The forward dribbled through the middle, splitting the Great Dane defenders and found the left corner of the cage to give the Scarlet Knights a 1-0 lead. Morgan tied the game up for UAlbany in the 27th minute, taking an assist from Nina Walters off a penalty corner attempt. Rutgers scored back-to-back goals in the second half to take a 3-1 advantage. The Scarlet Knights got a penalty corner tally from Alyssa Bull at 52:21. Rutgers then took advantage of two green cards on the Great Danes, getting a two-man advantage. Lisa Patrone recorded an unassisted shot at 58:32 to put the Scarlet Knights up by two. UAlbany attempted to rally as time wound down, as Longstreth took an assist from Corrine McConnville in the 64th minute, but Rutgers would hold on for its season-opening win. The teams were tied with 15 shots apiece, while UAlbany held a 13-3 advantage in penalty corners, including an 8-2 mark in the second half. Troch played all 70 minutes in the cage for the Great Danes, while Sarah Stuby stopped nine shots for Rutgers (1-0) in a complete-game performance. UAlbany (0-1) will return to action on Sunday, visiting Delaware at 1 p.m. UAlbany (0-1) 1 1 - 2 Rutgers (1-0) 1 2 - 3 UAlbany - Scoring: Liza Morgan (1-0), Jessica Longstreth (1-0), Corrine McConville (0-1). Goalkeeper: Kristi Troch (70:00, 3 GA, 5 saves). Rutgers - Scoring: Danielle Freshnock (1-0), Alyssa Bull (1-0), Lisa Patrone (1-0), Carlie Rouh (0-1), Christie Lonsky (0-1). Goalkeeper: Sarah Stuby (70:00, 2 GA, 9 saves).