PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team has its sights set on a championship entering the 2023 campaign.

In 2022, the Scarlet Knights enjoyed their best season in school history, earning a program-record 16 wins while reaching the Big Ten Tournament final for the first time since they began conference play in 2015. RU appeared  in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season, recording an opening-round win over No. 23 Saint Joseph’s and finished No. 10 in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll.

Ranked as high as No. 7 in the country ahead of spring action, Rutgers enters the 2023 spring campaign with a lot of expectations of what it can accomplish under reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year Melissa Lehman.

“Building off of last year's success, I think we are just excited to get back out on the field as a team,” Lehman said. “I think this team is ready to get going again on our mission of competing for championships. It was awesome getting a taste of the Big Ten Championship last year, and I think that has made them even hungrier. We have high goals for this team.”

Lehman and her staff have a veteran unit at their disposal with seven seniors and three graduate students set to return.

“This senior class were the freshmen when we came in as a coaching staff, and the fifth-years were sophomores,” Lehman added. “I'm excited to see what they can do and how they lead this team. They have had a lot of playing time. They compete hard, they want to win. They fight for each other, and really set the tone in what they want out of this program, how they want to play each game, and how they want to keep the culture and camaraderie in the locker room. That has been so great for us, they celebrate all the little things and they just get so excited for one another.”

Senior Cassidy Spilis, coming off a successful 2022 season, is set to play a key role for the Scarlet Knights again. The Tabernacle, New Jersey, native was the unanimous 2022 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, as well as an IWLCA first-team All-American. Her 69 goals last season was a program single-season record, and she enters the season at No. 3 on the program’s all-time draw controls list with 170. 

“She is the ultimate competitor,” Lehman said. “She’s fearless, and she will put the team on her back. As a midfielder, she makes plays all over the field for us, she’s a player that you can count on. What is so special about Cassidy is that she wants to keep growing her game. I have seen her grow so much since her freshman year. She had a great fall, and I am excited to see what she does this spring.”

The senior class also features defender Meghan Ball. The Raritan, New Jersey, native was a IWLCA second-team All-American and a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2022. She sits second in program history in caused turnovers (94) and draw controls (207).

Ball, Spilis, and fellow senior Ashley Campo were all selected as preseason All-Americans by USA Lacrosse Magazine. Last season, Campo started all 21 games and finished with 37 points on 20 goals and 17 assists while also adding 36 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers.

Another key defender, senior Jessica Beneducci, is prepared for another successful season for the Scarlet Knights. The Mendham, New Jersey, native was a member of the 2022 All-Big Team second team, after finishing fifth in the conference in ground balls (43) and caused turnovers (25). 

In the net for Rutgers is junior Sophia Cardello, who has enjoyed a successful career since she arrived ‘On The Banks’ in 2021. She has made 28 starts in net, collecting 248 career saves and a .410 save percentage. She was selected as a member of the All-Big Ten Tournament team a season ago.

“I think our defense is really strong,” Lehman mentioned. “I think with defense it's about really having trust within the unit, and it has been awesome seeing this team play so well together over the past few years. I am excited to see what we can do. The defense has been a big part of this program since we got here, and we all know that wins you games and championships and they take that to heart.”

Marin Hartshorn, another offensive weapon for Rutgers, has returned for her fifth year of action. Since the 2019 season, she has made 61 starts on attack. A two-time captain, the Allentown, New Jersey, native is fourth in program history in draw controls (153) and assists (65). She also sits at 10th  in program history in career points (152). 

“I’m excited to see Marin Hartshorn in her fifth year,” Lehman stated. “She’s just a leader, and she stayed to make an impact and really finish her career strong. She’s been playing great in practice; she is an unbelievable facilitator. We need that from her, and she is up for the challenge. I am excited for her.”

Rutgers also welcomes a first-year class of eight to the program, including Katie Buck and Ava Chiarella, who were named to ILWomen’s Power 100 Freshman Rankings.

“Our freshmen class, from the moment they stepped on campus, they just competed,” Lehman added. “They're athletic, they're fast, and we will be looking to them to give us some minutes for sure. They just keep getting better and better.”

Rutgers’ 2023 schedule features a number of tough opponents, but that is nothing but exciting for the group. Its schedule includes nine games against teams who competed in last year’s NCAA Tournament, as well as six games against Big Ten opponents. 

 “I am looking forward to competing against a tougher schedule,” Lehman said. “One of the things (with) competing in the Big Ten, you have to be on and you have to be ready. Any team can beat anyone on any given day, so having that preparation in the non conference schedule is going to be really awesome for us to help prepare us for the games that matter in conference.”

Lehman also sees value in playing games on the road - something RU is slated to do eight times during the regular season.

“We need to learn to win on the road and compete on the road, especially when we are playing one game and another game two days later, that’s what happens. It will be good preparation for us,” Lehman concluded.

The Scarlet Knights open their schedule Sunday, February 12 at No. 19 Jacksonville.