PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (1-0) opened its 2024 season with a dominant 20-10 victory over Manhattan (0-1) on Saturday at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights raced out to an 8-1 lead in the first 15 minutes of action and never looked back, as their 20 goals against the Jaspers were the most in a season opener since they netted 20 against LIU in 2019.

Graduate student Cassidy Spilis led all scorers with seven points on six goals and an assist, while senior Kate Carolonza, junior Victoria Goldrick and sophomores Kimberly Greenblatt and Ava Kane all tallied multi-goal efforts in the win. It was Goldrick's first career game for RU after suffering through injuries her first two seasons with the program.

Rutgers outshot Manhattan, 38-19, forced the visitors into 20 turnovers and dominated in the middle circle, 20-12, thanks to Spilis' game-high eight draw controls. Senior Sophia Cardello stopped nine shots for her first win of 2024. Graduate student Jessica Beneducci caused a game-high three turnovers, while senior Ashley Moynahan scooped up a game-high five ground balls.

"I was really excited how strong we started. That was definitely a key for us," said head coach Melissa Lehman. "We wasted no time getting on the board. I am also proud of Victoria Goldrick, who wasted no time getting involved in her first game. It was a great team effort today."

It was all Rutgers in the first quarter, as Spilis found Goldrick in the first 12 seconds of the game for the first goal of the season. The score sparked a 6-0 scoring run to begin the afternoon, with Spilis finding the back of the cage three times during the offensive stretch. Manhattan broke the streak with a goal at the 6:09 mark in the quarter, but goals from Carolonza and Greenblatt made it 8-1 through the first 15 minutes of play.

Manhattan played tough in the second quarter, outscoring the Scarlet Knights, 4-2 before halftime. An up goal from Kane with just 29 seconds to go before the break gave RU an 11-5 lead heading into the locker room.

Rutgers took control of the game in the third quarter with four consecutive goals. The steak included the first-career goals from sophomore Alexa Corbin and rookie Payton Tini, with Tin's finish off a free position attempt putting Rutgers up 14-5 with 11 minutes left in the third. The Jaspers add two goals before the start of the fourth quarter to cut RU's lead to 14-7 with 15 minutes left to play.

It was all Scarlet Knights to close the day, as RU tallied six goals to put the game out of reach. Six different Scarlet Knights scored in the quarter. including tallies from senior Nicole DiLullo and freshman Reese Robinson. DiLullo's score made it a 20-10 final.

Rutgers competes in its first road game of the season when it faces Georgetown on Saturday, February 17 in Washington, D.C.