Game Notes

Tournament Central

Bracket

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers field hockey opens the Big Ten Tournament Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. RU will face the nation's No. 3 team, Maryland, for the second time in six days. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, with Dean Linke and Kara Lentz on the call. The Terrapins are the Big Ten outright champions, No. 1 seeded, and hosting the tournament.

Rutgers made its first and only previous appearance at the Big Ten Tournament in 2014, during its first season as a conference member. The Scarlet Knights lost then to host and No. 2 seeded Michigan 3-0 in the quarterfinals.

With a victory, RU would play the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal between Northwestern and Iowa in the semifinals on Friday at 4 p.m.

The Scarlet Knights finished the regular season at 9-8 overall, with a 2-6 conference record. Rutgers has alternated wins in October, with a 3-4 record in the month after a 6-3 start. RU faced Maryland in the regular season finale last weekend, falling 4-2. RU got seven saves from Shevaun Hayes and goals from Rachel Yaney and Nikki Santore in the game.

Rutgers' senior midfielder and three-time captain Alyssa Bull was named Second Team All-Big Ten Wednesday. She has scored three goals and added six assists for 12 points. She has 14 goals and 20 assists in her career. Bull needs three more assists for sixth place all-time at RU. Sofia Walia is one assist behind her at eighth all-time. Walia is also three points from the top-ten all-time.

Freshman Nikki Santore leads the team with nine goals and 22 points. Sophomore Linde van Schaik (eight goals, 19 points), senior Rachel Yaney (seven goals, 18 points) and senior Devon Freshnock (six goals, 17 points, Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree) follow her.

Rutgers head coach Meredith Civico played for Missy Meharg at Maryland, winning a national championship in 2005. She will lead a Scarlet Knights team looking to reach double-digit victories for the first time since 2008.

Maryland is led by Big Ten Athlete of the Year Welma Luus (13 goals, 30 points) and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Grace Balsdon (12 goals, 28 points). They bring an eight-game winning streak into the contest. The Terrapins hold a 27-3-1 lead in the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers last win came in 1998, a 4-3 victory.