PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse closes out a three-game road swing to start 2018 when it competes against Monmouth on Saturday, Feb. 17, for a 1 p.m. contest in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Saturday's game with the Hawks marks the third consecutive road game for the Scarlet Knights, who also played at Temple (Feb. 10) and LIU Brooklyn (Feb. 13).
 
Last Time Out
Junior attack Dana Gisonno and freshman midfielder Taralyn Naslonski each recorded hat tricks as 10 players found the back of the cage for Rutgers women's lacrosse in its 15-4 victory over LIU Brooklyn Tuesday on the road. The Scarlet Knights outshot the Blackbirds, 36-16, and forced its opponent into 25 turnovers.
 
Senior co-captain Kerri Puckhaber produced two goals and two assists, while junior Abbey Brooks contributed a goal and three helpers during the midweek victory. Senior Nicole Kopyta, senior Paige Paratore, junior Allie Ferrara, sophomore Samantha Budd, redshirt sophomore Emily Santana and freshman Julia Lytle all added goals Tuesday afternoon.
 
Scouting Monmouth
In their last time out, the Hawks (0-2) suffered an 18-7 setback against Temple on Wednesday in West Long Branch. Nicole Ceraso and Jenny Staines each had hat tricks in the loss.
 
In Monmouth's first two games of the season, Ceraso leads the team with seven points on five goals and two assists.
 
In the cage, Riley Brager has played all 120 minutes for the Hawks thus far with 21 saves and a 15.00 GAA.
 
The Series
Rutgers leads the all-time series over Monmouth, 12-2, which includes a tight 12-11 victory over the Hawks last season at Hight Point Solutions Stadium.
 
In their last meeting, RU picked up its first win of 2017 Saturday afternoon at High Point Solutions Stadium by a 12-11 final against The Hawks. Monmouth rallied to within one after trailing 12-6, but the Scarlet Knights won a key draw control with 31 seconds left that allowed them to ice the victory.
 
Balanced Scoring Attack
Nine different Scarlet Knights scored 10 or more goals last season, with six of those players returning to the field in 2018.
 
Kopyta returns as RU's leading scorer after she was third on the team in 2017 with 24 goals. Brooks (4th, 18 goals), Paratore (5th, 16 goals), Puckhaber (6th, 12 goals), Budd (T/7th, 15 goals) and senior Joanna Reilly (T/7th, 15 goals) all return as well for Rutgers this season.
 
In its first two games of 2018, Rutgers has demonstrated its mentality of spreading the scoring wealth. Twelve Scarlet Knights have produced goals this season, which included 10 goal scorers in last Tuesday's victory over LIU Brooklyn.
 
2018 Captains
Head coach Laura Brand Sias designated Puckhaber, Christine DiLullo and Alana Navaroli as team captains for the 2018 season. Both Navaroli and Puckhaber played in all 16 contests for the Scarlet Knights last spring, while DiLullo missed last season due to injury. The trio will help RU in its fourth season in the Big Ten Conference.
 
Preseason Honors
Budd, Puckhaber and senior Amanda Casten were selected as Big Ten Players to Watch, announced on Jan. 29 by the league office. This is the third preseason All-Big Ten selection for Casten, who enters her final collegiate season after she was named an All-Big Ten defender in both 2016 and 2017.
 
Up Next
The Scarlet Knights finally return home when they host Delaware on Saturday, Feb. 24 for a 3 p.m. showdown at HPSS.
 
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