Ball, Spilis named USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-Americans
Dec 21 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse standout juniors Meghan Ball and Cassidy Spilis were named USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-Americans. Ball earned second-team laurels while Spilis netted third-team accolades by the publication ahead of the 2022 season.
The duo helped the Scarlet Knights to one of their best seasons in program history, as RU finished 2021 with its first-ever NCAA postseason win, its second-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament and wins over six ranked opponents – a school record.
A 2021 Inside Lacrosse All-American, an IWLCA All-Region selection and 2021 Tewaaraton Award watch list member, Ball finished fourth in the Big Ten in draw controls (75) and caused turnovers (27) and led the team in draw controls, caused turnovers and ground balls (35). Ball – a First Team All-Big Ten selection – secured a program single-game record 13 draw controls in RU's win over Drexel in the first round of the NCAA.
An IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse All-America selection, Spilis finished first on the team in goals (49) and second in points (52), draw controls (65) and caused turnovers (27) in 16 games during the spring campaign. The 2021 First Team All-Big Ten selection finished fourth in the conference with 3.06 goals per game and secured a career-high nine goals in Rutgers' semifinal loss to No. 2 Northwestern en route to IWLCA Player of the Week accolades.
Along with Rutgers's first trip to NCAAs since 1999, second-year head coach Melissa Lehman led the program to its first IWLCA Coaches Poll ranking since the 2013 season and its highest ranking (No. 14) since 2010. Rutgers also picked up its first-ever wins over Big Ten Conference foes Johns Hopkins, Maryland and Penn State and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for just the second time since it began league play in 2015.
Rutgers returns 10 starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team, which includes Ball and Spilis, All-Big Ten standout Taralyn Naslonski and all-region selection Marin Hartshorn. The Scarlet Knights also welcome A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Stephanie Kelly, who finished as the conference leader in points (91) and assists (46) last spring at St. Joseph's.
Ranked No. 16 by USA Lacrosse Magazine, the Scarlet Knights open their 2022 schedule on Feb. 12 at Delaware before it faces Army for its home opener on Feb. 16.
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