Box Score PISCATAWAY, N.J.—The Hobart lacrosse team fell into a 4-0 first quarter hole and never recovered, losing at Rutgers 13-10 tonight. The loss drops the Statesmen to 3-3, 0-2 in the ECAC Lacrosse League, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 2-3, 1-1.

Rutgers held the edge in shots (40-37) and ground balls (28-25), while Hobart had the advantage on faceoffs (15-12) and clears (85.7%-71.4%). The Scarlet Knights were 3-of-5 in man-up situations, while the Statesmen were 1-of-5.

Rutgers scored four times in the opening 15 minutes, including a pair of man-up goals, while stymieing Hobart’s attack.

The Statesmen climbed back into the contest with four goals of their own in the second quarter. Junior Jeff Colburn (CNS/Liverpool, N.Y.), sophomore Mike Suits (CBA/Syracuse, N.Y.), and senior Sean Murphy (Bishop Timon-St. Jude/Buffalo, N.Y.) fired in consecutive scores to make it a 4-3 game with 5:40 left in the opening half.

The Knights went back in front by two less than two minutes later, but senior Nick Currie (Corning East/Corning, N.Y.) got Hobart back within one before the half with his team-leading eighth goal of the year.

Rutgers regained the momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Hobart 3-2. Senior Daryl Veltman (Salisbury School/Coquitlam, B.C.) and Suits scored for the Statesmen.

The Knights scored four of the first five goals of the fourth quarter to build its largest lead of the game, 12-7. Colburn and Murphy netted back-to-back goals less than a minute apart to close the gap to three with 6:35 remaining, but Rutgers scored 21 seconds later to squash Hobart’s hopes of a comeback.

Veltman paced the Statesmen with two goals and an assist, moving into second place on Hobart’s Division I career lists for goals (90) and points (138). Colburn, Murphy, and Suits each chipped in a pair of goals. Senior Dan Spinella (New Hartford/New Hartford, N.Y.) won 15-of-27 faceoffs for the Statesmen, picking up a game-high eight ground balls.

Kory Kelly and Jeff Romel led the Knights with four points each.

Rutgers goalie William Olin made 16 saves, while sophomore Max Silberlicht (New Hartford/New Hartford, N.Y.) turned back 12 for Hobart.

The Statesmen are back in action on March 25, when they host No. 3 Syracuse. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at McCooey Field.