CAMDEN, N.J. (March 23, 2019) – A program-record best season start came to an end for the Rutgers University-Camden lacrosse team here Saturday, but the Scarlet Raptors didn't go down without a fight.
 
DeSales University (5-3) won its fifth straight game, 15-7, as it handed the Raptors their first loss of the season, dropping Rutgers-Camden's record to 3-1. Rutgers-Camden had never been 2-0 before in program history before this season, much less 3-0. The loss also snapped the Raptors' three-game winning streak, which tied a program record set in 2013 and repeated in 2016.
 
DeSales opened up a 5-2 lead midway through the first half before the Raptors came roaring back to tie the game with three straight goals – tallies by senior midfielder Cara Racobaldo and freshman midfielder Claire Gailliout, sandwiched around an own goal. Gailliout's goal tied the game at 5-5 with 5:52 left in the half, but DeSales scored the last three goals before the break, including a tally by sophomore attack Eilis McCall with 4:37 remaining that put the Bulldogs ahead to stay.
 
Rutgers-Camden cut the gap to 8-6 when Racobaldo scored the first goal of the second half, but DeSales tallied the next four goals on the way to its win.
 
Freshman midfielder Azlin Myers paced the Bulldogs with seven goals and one assist for eight points, while adding six draw controls. Sophomore attack Julia Astram collected three goals and one assist for four points, while McCall and sophomore midfielder Katie Stordy notched two goals and one assist apiece.
 
Sophomore goalie Rachel Sheubrooks made 13 saves to collect the win for DeSales.
 
Rutgers-Camden received three goals and one assist from Gailliout. Racobaldo added two goals and one assist.
 
Freshman midfielder Jazmin Torres led the team with six draw controls and three caused turnovers, while junior defender Kacie Walton had six ground balls and freshman defender Eliada Destin added three.
 
Raptor sophomore goalie Brittany Watson, pictured above, made 15 saves for the second straight game, while facing 40 shots.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Wednesday with a 7 p.m. home game against Wesley College.