Wednesday, March 9
Philadelphia, Pa.
6 PM
Rutgers University
at
Temple
No. 13 Women’s Lacrosse Readies for Top-20 Showdown at Temple Wednesday
Mar 08 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 13 Rutgers women's lacrosse (6-0) takes its best start in program history down the turnpike to face No. 18 Temple (5-1) on Wednesday in Philadelphia. First draw is set for 6 p.m. ET from Howarth Field and will broadcast on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Rutgers defeated Villanova, 17-4, last Saturday in Piscataway. With their unblemished 6-0 record, the Scarlet Knights secured their best start to a season in the program's 46-year history.
Senior captain Marin Hartshorn, junior Cassidy Spilis and sophomore Kate Carolonza all produced hat tricks in the win, while graduate student Stephanie Kelly added two goals and two assists in the win. With her free-position goal in the third quarter, Spilis became the 27th player in program history to hit the 100-point milestone.
On the defensive end, junior Meghan Ball secured another strong showing with her game-high five ground balls, four caused turnovers and three draw controls. Sophomore Sophia Cardello allowed just four goals en route to her fifth win of the season. RU forced Villanova into a season-high 23 turnovers, while the four goals allowed marked the least in a victory since it defeated LIU, 15-4, on Feb. 13, 2018.
In the Rankings
Rutgers moved up two spots to No. 12 in this week's Nike/USA Lacrosse Top 20 and one spot to No. 13 in the ILWomen/IWLCA Coaches poll. The rankings are the highest for the program in its history. Five Big Ten programs are ranked after the first two weeks of the season – No. 4 Maryland, No. 5 Northwestern, No. 8 Michigan, No. 13 Rutgers and No. 16 Johns Hopkins.
Approaching Milestones
The Owls are 5-1 this season and are one of seven ranked programs on RU's schedule this season. Temple rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to defeat UMBC, 14-11, in its last time out on Friday in Baltimore. The Owls only allowed two goals for the entire second half while scoring 11 to rally for the victory.
After two road wins in three days last week, Belle Mastropietro was named AAC Midfielder of the Week while Quinn Nicolai and Mackenzie Roth were named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll. Nicolai leads the team with 31 points and 25 goals, while Mastropietro is second with 29 points on 21 goals and eight assists.
Mastopiertro tops the team with 37 draw controls. In cage, Annie Carroll has accounted for all five of the team's wins with a 9.82 GAA and a .457 save percentage.
Series vs. Temple
Temple leads the all-time series between the two schools, 23-8. Rutgers won the last matchup, a 13-11 victory on Feb. 12, 2020 in Philadelphia.
Up Next
Rutgers faces No. 21 James Madison on Saturday, March 12 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Last Time Out
Rutgers defeated Villanova, 17-4, last Saturday in Piscataway. With their unblemished 6-0 record, the Scarlet Knights secured their best start to a season in the program's 46-year history.
Senior captain Marin Hartshorn, junior Cassidy Spilis and sophomore Kate Carolonza all produced hat tricks in the win, while graduate student Stephanie Kelly added two goals and two assists in the win. With her free-position goal in the third quarter, Spilis became the 27th player in program history to hit the 100-point milestone.
On the defensive end, junior Meghan Ball secured another strong showing with her game-high five ground balls, four caused turnovers and three draw controls. Sophomore Sophia Cardello allowed just four goals en route to her fifth win of the season. RU forced Villanova into a season-high 23 turnovers, while the four goals allowed marked the least in a victory since it defeated LIU, 15-4, on Feb. 13, 2018.
In the Rankings
Rutgers moved up two spots to No. 12 in this week's Nike/USA Lacrosse Top 20 and one spot to No. 13 in the ILWomen/IWLCA Coaches poll. The rankings are the highest for the program in its history. Five Big Ten programs are ranked after the first two weeks of the season – No. 4 Maryland, No. 5 Northwestern, No. 8 Michigan, No. 13 Rutgers and No. 16 Johns Hopkins.
Approaching Milestones
- Spilis is two goals away (98) from 100 for her career.
- Naslonski (202) is five points away from passing Heather Jones (206; 1991-94) for third all-time in points at Rutgers.
The Owls are 5-1 this season and are one of seven ranked programs on RU's schedule this season. Temple rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to defeat UMBC, 14-11, in its last time out on Friday in Baltimore. The Owls only allowed two goals for the entire second half while scoring 11 to rally for the victory.
After two road wins in three days last week, Belle Mastropietro was named AAC Midfielder of the Week while Quinn Nicolai and Mackenzie Roth were named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll. Nicolai leads the team with 31 points and 25 goals, while Mastropietro is second with 29 points on 21 goals and eight assists.
Mastopiertro tops the team with 37 draw controls. In cage, Annie Carroll has accounted for all five of the team's wins with a 9.82 GAA and a .457 save percentage.
Series vs. Temple
Temple leads the all-time series between the two schools, 23-8. Rutgers won the last matchup, a 13-11 victory on Feb. 12, 2020 in Philadelphia.
Up Next
Rutgers faces No. 21 James Madison on Saturday, March 12 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
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/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
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