PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women’s lacrosse put the country on notice in 2022 with its program-record 16 victories and second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. After eight wins last spring, fifth-year head coach Melissa Lehman knows her team has the talent and determination to improve last year’s win total and advance to the postseason in 2024.

Others agree, as the Scarlet Knights received votes in the initial IWLCA Coaches Poll – the third consecutive season RU begins its season either ranked or receiving votes. RU is one of six Big Ten Conference schools recognized by the poll.

Rutgers returns six of its nine leading scorers from a year ago, which includes three-time All-American and all-time leading goal scorer Cassidy Spilis. Classmate and All-Big Ten defender Jessica Beneducci is also set for her fifth season, while goalkeeper Sophia Cardello provides RU with fortification between the pipes.

The mix of veterans and underclassmen has Lehman, who has coached Rutgers to some of its biggest games in program history, excited for what is to come when the season begins on Saturday against Manhattan (1 p.m. on Big Ten Plus).

“Our program had a great fall season, and we were able to strengthen our culture and our connection as a team.” Lehman said. “This team has a lot of fun together and is very passionate and driven. It is going to make for some great outcomes this spring.”

2023 Rewind

Playing one of the toughest schedules in the country last spring, Rutgers finished with eight victories and its third consecutive Big Ten Tournament Semifinal appearance in 2023. The Scarlet Knights picked up wins against three ranked opponents – No. 6 Stony Brook, No. 16 Johns Hopkins, and No. 19 Jacksonville – and closed the season receiving votes in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll.

Rutgers advanced to its third consecutive Big Ten Semifinal with its 15-14 victory over the Blue Jays in the quarterfinals. Four Scarlet Knights picked up all-conference laurels, with Spilis earning consensus All-America accolades as one of the country’s best midfielders.

 “We speak a lot of having high expectations for the product we put out on the field,” Lehman said. “So, tightening up our play has been a focus for us, and our goal for this team is to play more as a unit.”

Midfield

All eyes are on Spilis as she enters her final season ‘On the Banks.’ Already one of the most decorated student-athletes in program history, Spilis has a chance to add more accolades and records to her mantle. Spilis has already been selected as a 2024 Big Ten Player to Watch, a preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine and as one of the top-50 players in the nation by IL Women.

Spilis surpassed current assistant coach Taralyn Naslonski for the most goals scored in a career at 192. With her 202 career points, Spilis needs 65 to eclipse Naslonski as the program’s point leader and can creep towards the top of the program record book in career draw controls (215, third all-time) and ground balls (66, 10th all-time).

But for Spilis, who finished last season with 51 points on 47 goals and four helpers along with 45 draw controls, 26 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers en route to first team all-conference accolades, the main goal is to help Rutgers become one of the best teams in the Big Ten and the country.

“It was a pretty easy decision for me to come back for a fifth year,” Spilis said. “It is a great opportunity to come back and have another season with this team and keep building this program. We just want to continue to have great chemistry and be successful.”

But Spilis is not the only talented middie on the roster. Fellow captain Emalie Clothier enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, appearing in all 17 games with 13 starts in midfield for the Scarlet Knights. The junior scooped up 18 ground balls, caused nine turnovers and secured a career-high four draw controls against No. 10 Maryland in last year’s Big Ten semifinal.

“I am excited for Emalie’s junior season,” Lehman said. “She has always been a gritty player that never gives up and does the little things for us. She is on a mission this year and is playing with a lot of confidence.”

Senior Ashley Moynahan also returns to the group. Moynahan scored 14 points and produced 21 ground balls – second most amongst midfielders on the team last season. Junior Michelle Warren appeared in 10 games in the midfield and adds to RU’s experience at the position.

Attack

Losing All-Big Ten selection and last year’s leading scorer Marin Hartshorn will need to be replaced, but RU has talent waiting in the wings. The sophomore duo of Lily Dixon and Ava Kane returns after a breakout rookie campaign a season ago. Kane scored 20 goals in 2023, which included four hat tricks, while Dixon added 18 points on nine scores and nine helpers. Dixon broke out in an overtime win over Ohio State at SHI Stadium, where she tallied five points on four goals and an assist, netting the game-winner in overtime against the Buckeyes.

“I am really excited to see both of these attacking returners who did some really great things as freshmen,” Lehman said. “I think of them as a dynamic duo. They have a great connection, and coming back as sophomores, they have bigger goals for this team.”

Veteran attackers are also at the team’s disposal. Seniors Mikayla Dever and Kate Carolonza played meaningful roles last season, with Dever bringing 49 career games and 30 career points to the lineup. Alexa Corbin, Nicole DiLullo, Victoria Goldrick, Madison Grady, and Ellie Riegner are all upperclassman on the attack who add valuable depth.

Defense

2024 Big Ten Player to Watch and team captain Jessica Beneducci is the unquestioned leader of the defense, helping the unit rank 14th in the country last season in caused turnovers per game. A four-year starter on defense, Beneducci has produced 101 ground balls and 53 caused turnovers in 63 games during her collegiate career. The graduate student caused seven turnovers and scooped up 17 ground balls last spring, which included the 100th ground ball of her career in a victory over No. 16 Johns Hopkins during the Big Ten Tournament.

“I am very excited to be back,” Beneducci said. “I could not pass up coming back to compete with this group of girls. Coming back with Cassidy [Spilis] as well, it’s just a great feeling to be back here with one another for one more season. We have a great group of girls on defense and a strong unit, so it is great to be here as a fifth-year leader with this group.”

Junior Madison Karpe also returns to help anchor the defense. Karpe has started 37 games during her first two seasons ‘On the Banks,’ finishing with 15 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers this past season. Karpe caused two turnovers against Johns Hopkins in the Big Ten quarterfinals and has logged six career multi-caused turnover performances.

Lauren Messinese and Keeley McNemar are also seniors to look out for on the defensive side of the field.

In Cage

Rutgers features one of the most experienced and talented netminders in the conference in Big Ten Player to Watch Sophia Cardello. The senior has appeared in 50 games with 46 starts between the pipes. The Massapequa, New York, native, owns 402 career saves and a .427 save percentage during her standout collegiate career. Cardello started all 17 games in cage for Rutgers last spring, tallying 154 saves, a .458 save percentage, and an 11.11 GAA in eight wins. During her junior campaign, Cardello produced 10 or more saves in seven games and finished second in the Big Ten with 9.06 saves per game. Cardello is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

“Cardello is our rock,” Lehman said. “She believes in this team and our defense. The way she speaks to the unit gives it a lot of trust. She allows the entire defense to build trust in one another.”

Rookie Class

Lehman is excited about this season’s freshmen class, which includes 10 newcomers. Three rookies were named to the 2023 ILWomen Power 100 Incoming Freshmen rankings. Reese Robinson checked in at No. 40 on the list, while classmates Samantha Swanovich and Payton Tini were named honorable mention.

Erin Duggan (M), Gianna Macrino (M), Cate O’Ferrall (D), Alex Popham (A), Sophia Rowell (GK), Olivia Sweeney (M), and Grace Toth (M) make up the rest of the first-year class.

“This fall, we were able to see a lot of our freshmen step up, put up some points and play fast,” Lehman said. “We have a lot of young talent that played well in the fall.”

Spring Schedule

Rutgers faces another tough schedule this season. Seven opponents begin the spring ranked in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, which include reigning NCAA Champions and No. 1 Northwestern, No. 9 Maryland, No. 11 Stony Brook, No. 12 Michigan, No. 14 Johns Hopkins, No. 15 Army, and No. 18 Penn State. Out-of-conference opponents Princeton and Yale also received votes in the initial coaches poll.

“Top to bottom, I think the Big Ten is the best lacrosse conference in the country,” Lehman said. “From one through seven, all the games are tough and are all battles, and that is what you want to see in a conference.”