Women’s Lacrosse Opens 2019 with Home Matchup against LIU Brooklyn Friday

Friday, February 8

4 PM

Rutgers University

LIU Brooklyn

Photo by: Rich Graessle

Women’s Lacrosse Opens 2019 with Home Matchup against LIU Brooklyn Friday

Feb 07 | Women's Lacrosse

Live Stats Livestream: BTN2Go Season Preview

Scarlet Knights play first three games at HighPoint.com Stadium

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse begins the 2019 season when it hosts LIU Brooklyn on Friday for a 4 p.m. matchup at HighPoint.com Stadium. The game against the Blackbirds will be the first of three consecutive home games for the Scarlet Knights to open the spring campaign, as RU also hosts Temple (Tuesday, Jan. 12) and Marist (Saturday, Jan. 16) during that span.

Giveaways & Promotions
Fans will be able to collect their 2019 women's lacrosse team poster upon entry to HighPoint.com Stadium.

2018 at a Glance
Rutgers finished last season with a 7-10 record and a 1-5 mark in Big Ten Conference play. The campaign included a 4-2 mark in the Scarlet Knights' first six games and a thrilling overtime victory over Michigan under the lights at HighPoint.com Stadium on BTN. Paige Paratore – who scored the game winner over the Wolverines – was named an All-Big Ten selection after she produced career highs in draw controls (42), points (34), goals (30), ground balls (29) and caused turnovers (18) during her final collegiate season.

Returning Talent
RU returns four of its top seven scorers from a year ago. Junior Samantha Budd co-led the team with 30 goals and 37 points, while senior Abbey Brooks led the program in assists with 16 to collect 33 points in 2018. Sophomore Taralyn Naslonski (24G, 7A) and senior Allie Ferrara (15 G) also return for head coach Laura Brand Sias in 2019.

On defense, Rutgers brings back four out of five starters, including redshirt senior Christine DiLullo, senior Regina Sharp and juniors Brianna Cirino and Jenna Martinelli. Senior Devon Kearns also returns in goal after she collected 137 saves and was credited for six wins in 2018.

Scouting LIU Brooklyn
The Blackbirds were picked to finish seventh in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll after they produced a 3-13 record in 2018 under seventh year head coach Allison Hanley. The Blackbirds return nine letter-winners from the 2018 squad, in addition to eight newcomers.

Sophomore sisters Amanda and Rachel Masullo both return after Amanda Masullo earned second-team All-NEC accolades while both were recognized on the all-rookie team. The duo, who both played and started all 16 games for LIU, combined for 57 goals and 80 points on the year. The two honorees were the most for the program since the 2015 season, and the first career honors for the young Blackbirds.

Sophomore Sam Kidd also returns in between the pipes for the Blackbirds. As a rookie, Kidd played in all 16 games – including 12 starts – and saved 79 shots for a .405 save percentage to go along with a 14.48 GAA.

Last Meeting
Naslonski recorded a hat trick as 10 players found the back of the cage for Rutgers in its 15-4 victory over LIU Brooklyn on Feb. 13, 2018 in Brooklyn. The Scarlet Knights outshot the Blackbirds, 36-16, and forced their opponent into 25 turnovers. Brooks contributed four points on an assist and three goals, and current players Budd, Ferrara and sophomore Julia Lytle also scored.

2019 Leadership Council
Rutgers announced its captains and leadership council for the 2019 season. DiLullo and Brooks will be the team captains, while Budd, Sharp, senior Tess Howland and junior Dakota Pastore will serve on the newly created leadership council.

All six student-athletes were named 2018 Spring Academic All-Big Ten selections, with Howland and Pastore both recognized as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars with 3.7 or higher GPA's. The Scarlet Knights were also named an IWLCA 2018 Division I Academic Honor team, posting a 3.0 or higher team GPA for the 2017-18 academic year.

Preseason Honors
Budd, DiLullo and Naslonski were named Big Ten Players to Watch last month. For Budd, this marks the second consecutive season the conference has selected her to the preseason watch list, also appearing as a sophomore in 2018. This is the first-career preseason player to watch recognitions for DiLullo and Naslonski.

Up Next
Rutgers continues its home stand when it hosts Temple on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m.

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 (@rulaxbrand) 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. For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.