PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Meghan Ball and Cassidy Spilis from Rutgers women's lacrosse were named Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-Americans, announced last week by the publication. It marks the first Inside Lacrosse All-America selections for the program since Katie Batiuk earned the distinction in 2007.
 
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.

Rutgers delivered the program's first NCAA Tournament victory in its 45 seasons of women's lacrosse when it took down No. 10 Drexel, 16-13, on May 14 in Stony Brook, New York. The victory was the Scarlet Knights' sixth over a ranked opponent this season, which also includes wins over No. 11 Maryland, No. 13 Penn State and a three-game sweep of No. 19 Ohio State.
 
A first team all-region and 2021 Tewaaraton Award watch list member, 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.
 
Also an all-region pick 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.
 
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.