PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (1-0) hits the road for the first time this season when it faces Georgetown (2-0) on Saturday in Washington, D.C. First draw from Cooper Field is set for 1 p.m. with the game streamed on FloSports.
 

Last Time Out

• The Scarlet Knights opened their season with a dominant 20-10 win over Manhattan last Saturday at SHI Stadium. RU raced out to an 8-1 lead in the first 15 minutes and never looked back, as its 20 goals against the Jaspers were the most in a season-opening win since it netted 20 at 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.

Spilis Big Ten Midfielder of the Week

• Spilis was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Week, announced Tuesday by the conference. Spilis produced seven points on six goals and an assist to go along with eight draw controls for Rutgers against Manhattan to open the 2024 campaign.
•  It is the sixth Big Ten midfield weekly honor of her career and her eighth overall weekly laurel from the conference. Spilis has now been named Big Ten Midfielder of the Week at least once in each of the past three seasons.

Spilis Climbing the Charts

• With two goals, Spilis will become the first player in program history to hit 200 for her career.
• With her seven points last Saturday, Spilis passed Heather Jones for fifth all-time in career points with 209.
• Spilis needs six points to pass Marin Hartshorn (214) for fourth all-time and eight to pass Katie Batiuk (216) for third.
• Spilis is 58 points away from becoming the program's all-time point scorer.
• With 223 career draw controls graduate student needs seven draw controls to pass Cathy Pecha for second in all-time draw controls.

Scouting Georgetown & Series History

• The Hoyas enter Saturday's game after they defeated Towson, 13-5, on Wednesday. Georgetown also opened its season last Saturday with an 18-13 victory at American.
• Lily Athanas was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after she tallied seven draw controls, three ground balls and two caused turnovers for the Hoyas in their win over American. Emma Gebhardt produced seven goals and an assist against American to land on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. In two games, Gebhart leads the team with nine points.
• Georgetown leads the all-time series with Rutgers, 21-5, but the Scarlet Knights have won the past two meetings.
• RU defeated the Hoyas, 15-8, last February at SHI Stadium. Spilis netted a game-high six goals in the win.

Up Next

• Rutgers hosts back-to-back home games next week, beginning with Monmouth on Wednesday, February 21 for a 6 p.m. matchup at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights also face No. 18 Army on Saturday, February 21 at 1 p.m. in Piscataway.