Women’s Lacrosse Hosts Delaware Saturday at HPSS

Saturday, February 24

Piscataway, NJ

3:00PM

Rutgers University

Delaware

Photo by: Mitch Leff/Rutgers Athletics

Women’s Lacrosse Hosts Delaware Saturday at HPSS

Feb 23 | Women's Lacrosse

Rutgers Notes BTN Plus ($)Live Stats

Scarlet Knights face Blue Hens as part of doubleheader with men’s lacrosse program

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (2-1, 0-0) returns to High Point Solutions Stadium for the first time this season when it hosts Delaware (1-1, 0-0) on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the men's lacrosse program, who hosts Fairfield before at noon at HPSS. Fans who purchase tickets to the men's game can stay for the 3 p.m. game against the Blue Hens.

The game will broadcast live on BTNPlus, with Lou Brogno and Tim McGeeney on the call. Fans in attendance will receive a 2018 team poster.

Last Time Out
Behind a career-high six goals from sophomore midfielder Samantha Budd, a hat trick from junior attack Abbey Brooks and multi-goal outings from seniors Nicole Kopyta, Paige Paratore and Kerri Puckhaber, Rutgers downed Monmouth, 19-8, last Saturday afternoon in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

For Budd, her seven total points (6g, 1a) marked a career high and tied for second in program history. Her six scores also tied for second in single-game Rutgers history, as she became only the fourth Scarlet Knight to secure six or more goals in a single game since 2007.

As a team, the Scarlet Knights outshot the Hawks, 35-17, forced 19 turnovers and won the draw control battle, 16-3. RU also scooped up 20 ground balls to Monmouth's 11, while nine Scarlet Knights found the back of the cage to contribute to the out-of-conference road win.

In cage, Devon Kearns played all 60 minutes to earn her second win of the season, as the junior stopped eight MU shots.

Scouting Delaware
The Blue Hens (1-1) enter Saturday's contest after they recorded a 16-13 home victory over La Salle on Wednesday.

In the win over the Explorers, four Delaware players recorded hat tricks to secure the win. Sophomores Sarah Bedard and Katie Caddigan each logged their first career goals in a Blue Hens uniform as the pair combined for seven goals.

Through two games, four Delaware players – Bedard, Caddigan, Claire D'Antonio and Sydney Rausa - all have four points to lead the program.

Tyler Carpenter has started both games for the Blue Hens between the pipes, owning a 12.50 GAA to go along with 21 saves and a .457 save percentage.

The Series
Delaware leads the all-time series against Rutgers, 11-6, with wins in the last three meetings. The Blue Hens defeated RU, 17-5, last season.

B1G Weekly Honors for Naslonski, Sharp
After helping Rutgers women's lacrosse earn back-to-back victories last week, junior Regina Sharp and freshman Taralyn Naslonski have been recognized as Players of the Week by the Big Ten Conference, it was announced Tuesday.

Sharp collected Defensive Player of the Week Accolades, while Naslonski was pegged Freshman of the Week by the conference.

In RU's 15-4 victory over LIU Brooklyn, Sharp caused four turnovers and scooped up six ground balls, both career highs for the Suffern, New York native. Against Monmouth, Sharp corralled another three ground balls and caused a turnover in the 19-8 road win.

In just her second-career collegiate appearance last Tuesday against the Blackbirds, Naslonski recorded four points, which included her first-career hat trick to co-lead the Scarlet Knights in points during the win. The rookie produced two more points with a goal and an assist on Saturday to help RU earn its second consecutive win over the Hawks in series history.

Balanced Scoring Attack
The Scarlet Knights once again feature a balanced scoring attack, as six players have totaled six or more points through the first three games of 2018.

Budd leads the team with 10 points (8g, 2a), Brooks owns eight points (5g, 3a), while Naslonski, Paratore, Puckhaber and junior Dana Gisonno all have contributed six points this season.

Budd Controls
Budd produced a career game in her first outing of 2018, collecting 12 draw controls, two caused turnovers, a ground ball, a goal and an assist on Feb. 10 at Temple.

The 12 draw controls against the Owls tied a program single-game record, also held by teammate Alana Navaroli who accomplished the feat last season against Manhattan.

After three games, Budd leads the team in draw controls with 20 in 2018.

Up Next
Rutgers hits the road next Wednesday, (Feb. 28) when it competes at No. 14 UPenn for a 6:30 p.m. start in Philadelphia.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the program Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram @RULaxBrand. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.