PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 10 Rutgers field hockey is back in action this weekend after a bye weekend, and will travel for a matchup with another top-10 foe. RU will face No. 6 Michigan in Ann Arbor for a pair of games this weekend, Friday at 4 pm and Sunday at noon. Both games will be streamed on BTN Plus. 

The Scarlet Knights have opened the year with a 5-1 record, claiming two wins over each Michigan State and Ohio State, along with a victory over Indiana. Rutgers' lone loss came to Iowa, currently ranked second in the nation. That mark puts them among the top three teams in the Big Ten early in the season. Rutgers and Michigan represent two of six Big Ten teams ranked in the top-12 in the nation. 

Goalkeeper Gianna Glatz currently ranks eighth in the nation in goals-against-average (0.53). The Scarlet Knights have the top save percentage in the Big Ten and also the most shutouts (averaging one every other game). The team's scoring margin of 1.63 is second in the conference. 

The Scarlet Knights have had a Big Ten player of the week in each week that they've been in action this season. Glatz, a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, has been joined by Big Ten Freshmen of the Week Bridy Molyneaux and Liz-Elaine Stange. 

Against the Spartans, Kassidy Shetler scored twice, and she now holds the team lead with three goals on the season. With seven points, she shares the team lead with Milena Redlingshoefr (two goals, three assists). A trio of newcomers tie with Redlingshoefer for second on the team with two goals - Liz Romano, Liz-Elaine Stange and Bridy Molyneaux. 

On the year, RU has outscored opponents 13-3. The team has not allowed more than one goal in any game, with three shutouts. The Scarlet Knights have allowed just 33 shot attempts through six games (compared to 64 shots of their own). 

The Wolverines jumped up five spots in the national rankings after a win over No. 4 Northwestern last weekend. Michigan is 3-2 overall. Goalkeeper Anna Spieker leads the Big Ten and is ninth nationally with a .867 save percentage and eighth in the country with 6.50 saves per game. 

Michigan holds an 8-1 lead in the all-time series. The last meeting went to Rutgers, a 3-0 win in Piscataway in the fall of 2019. That contest marked the highest ranked Big Ten team RU has ever defeated. 

Friday's game will mark the midpoint of the schedule, the seventh of 14 slated regular season contests. RU returns home for its next four games, hosting upcoming series with Penn State (April 2 and 4) and then No. 5 Northwestern (April 9 and 11).