PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Even with a five-goal effort in the third period, St. John's lacrosse was edged by Rutgers, 9-6, in ECAC action, Saturday afternoon on Yurcak Field.

With the loss, the Red Storm falls to 0-8 on the season and 0-3 in league play. The Scarlet Knights advance to 3-4 on the season and 2-1 in the ECAC.

Rutgers scored first, two minutes into the game. St. John's tied it up seven minutes later, as senior Justin O'Donnell scored top shelf on Scarlet Knight goaltender Bill Olin fed in front of the net by junior Malcolm Miles.

The Scarlet Knights scored with just over two minutes left in the first quarter, taking the 2-1 lead into the second stanza. Rutgers scored two more with under six minutes left in the half to extend their lead to three, 4-1.

The Red Storm came back fired up in the second half as junior Trevor Michaelsen, fed by classmate Tom Manes scored a minute and a half into the third period making the score 4-2.

Long-stick midfielder, junior Dom DeNapoli came right back down the field 30 seconds later with a Red Storm fast break and sent the ball flying into the top left corner of the Scarlet Knight's net to tighten the gap to one goal.

Miles continued the Red Storm's three goal streak, scoring unassisted to tie the game at four.

The Scarlet Knights answered right back with four goals of their own with sophomore Tad Tanwick picking up two assists and a goal in the two minute scoring run to put Rutgers up 8-4.

Picking up the groundball off his own face-off win and charging toward the goal, senior Jack Rosson ended the Rutgers streak with an unassisted goal at 5:42.

O'Donnell picked up his second goal of the day with just over two minutes to play capitalizing on a Rutgers holding penalty to earn a power play goal fed by Michaelsen, cutting the Rutgers lead back to three, 9-6, to end the third period.

As time continuously ran off the clock in the fourth, the Red Storm couldn't repeat the heat from the third period and both teams remained scoreless as Rutgers defeated St. John's 9-6.

The St. John's defenders led by seniors Mike Luyster and Tim LaMare once again excelled in the backfield, holding Rutgers 0-7 in man-up situations. Both Luyster and LaMare caused three Rutgers' turnovers each.

The Red Storm is back in action on Saturday, April 5 for a home conference match up against University of Massachusetts. Game time is set for 1 p.m. on DaSilva Memorial Field.