PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 24 Rutgers women's lacrosse (2-0) returns to Piscataway for its next two contests when it hosts Monmouth (2-0) on Wednesday at SHI Stadium. First draw is set for 6 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
 
Admission and parking for all home games are free. Fans planning to park must register their vehicles with the University through this link. Visitors only need to register their vehicle once for the entire season. Parking for 2024 home games is in the Scarlet Lot outside the West entrance of SHI Stadium.
 

Last Time Out

• Rutgers women's lacrosse (2-0) defeated Georgetown (2-1), 13-6, on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C. Graduate student Cassidy Spilis tallied a game-high five goals against the Hoyas, becoming the first player in program history to net 200 career goals.
• The Scarlet Knights never trailed Georgetown, using a 34-21 shot advantage and a seven-goal differential in the first 30 minutes of play to secure their second consecutive win. With her five goals, Spilis sits at 203 for her career. Senior Ashley Moynahan and sophomore Lily Dixon added two goals apiece, while junior Victoria Goldrick dished out a game-high four assists.
• Senior goalkeeper Sophia Cardello was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 10 shots for her second win of the season. Moynahan and senior Lauren Messinese each caused two turnovers.

 

Back in the National Rankings

• Rutgers returned to a familiar spot under head coach Melissa Lehman, entering the IWLCA Coaches Poll for the first time this season at No. 24. It is the fourth consecutive season the Scarlet Knights have earned a national ranking. RU has been as high as No. 8 in the poll during regular season play, achieved during the first few weeks of the 2023 campaign.
• RU is one of six Big Ten programs ranked in this week's poll, joining No. 4 Northwestern, No. 5 Maryland, No. 6 Michigan, No. 12 Johns Hopkins and No. 22 Penn State.

 

Spilis Added to Tewaaraton Watch List

• Spilis was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List for the fourth consecutive season, announced last Friday by the Tewaaraton Award Foundation. The list includes the top players from across the country and highlights the early contenders for the 2024 Tewaaraton Award.
• Spilis is the first student-athlete from Rutgers women's lacrosse to be a four-time member of the Tewaaraton Watch List. The Tabernacle, New Jersey, native was also named a Tewaaraton Award Top 25 member in 2022.

 

Spilis Climbing the Charts

• With her five goals against Georgetown, Spilis became the first player in program history to surpass 200 for her career with 203 'On the Banks.'
• Spilis also passed Marin Hartshorn for fourth all-time in career points scored with 215 and needs two to surpass Katie Batiuk (216) for third.
• Spilis is 52 points away from becoming the program's all-time point scorer.
• With 228 career draw controls graduate student needs two draw controls to pass Cathy Pecha for second in all-time draw controls.

 

Statistical Standouts

Cassidy Spilis

• Goals: 11 (2nd Big Ten/14th NCAA)
• Goals Per Game: 5.50 (1st Big Ten/5th NCAA)
• Points: 13 (3rd Big Ten/31st NCAA)
• Points Per Game: 6.50 (1st Big Ten/12th NCAA)
• Draw Controls Per Game: 6.50 (1st Big Ten/23rd NCAA)

Victoria Goldrick

• Assists: 5 (5th Big Ten/42nd NCAA)
• Assists Per Game: 2.50 (4th Big Ten/30th NCAA)

Sophia Cardello

• GAA: 6.81 (4th Big Ten/12th NCAA)
• Save Percentage: .556 (4th Big Ten/16th NCAA)

Ashley Moynahan

• Caused Turnovers Per Game: 2.00 (4th Big Ten/39th NCAA)
• Ground Balls Per Game (3rd Big Ten/50th NCAA)

Scouting Monmouth & Series History

• The Hawks enter Wednesday with a 2-0 record, beating FDU, 20-6, last Wednesday in their last time out. Monmouth also owns a 22-12 win at Bryant this season.
• Preseason All-CAA selection Caroline Brennan leads the Hawks with 14 points on 12 goals and two assists this season. Danielle McNeely has produced a team-high 11 draw controls and four caused turnovers. Gia Mitchell and Katie Sullivan have split time in cage.
• Rutgers leads the all-time series with Monmouth, 16-3, which includes five wins in their last six meetings dating back to 2017. The Scarlet Knights defeated the Hawks, 11-5, in last year's meeting, with Spilis netting a game-high four goals in the road win.

Up Next

• Rutgers hosts Army on Saturday, February 21 at 1 p.m. in Piscataway.