Women’s Lacrosse Opens Big Ten Tournament Saturday at No. 7 Maryland

Saturday, April 27

College Park, MD

4 PM

Rutgers University

Maryland

Photo by: Maryland Athletics

Women’s Lacrosse Opens Big Ten Tournament Saturday at No. 7 Maryland

Apr 25 | Women's Lacrosse

Live Stats Big Ten Plus Tickets

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 6 seed Rutgers women's lacrosse (7-9, 1-5) opens postseason play against No. 3 seed Maryland (12-4, 4-2) in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday in College Park. First draw is set for 4 p.m., with the opening round streamed on Big Ten Plus.

The Scarlet Knights look to secure their fourth consecutive trip to the Big Ten semifinals dating back to 2021. As the No. 6 seed last spring, RU upset No. 3 seed John Hopkins in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Saturday will also be the program's third consecutive matchup with the Terrapins in the Big Ten Tournament after it lost to UMD in last season's semifinals.

Last Time Out

Rutgers lost its regular-season finale at Vermont, 11-10, on Sunday afternoon in Burlington. Graduate student Cassidy Spilis netted a team-high four goals, including the game-tying score with just under five minutes remaining, but UVM's Kendall Traveis tallied the game-winner in the closing moments to secure the out-of-conference win.
Spilis finished with five points on four goals and an assist to go along with five caused turnovers, four draw controls and three ground balls. Sophomore Ava Chiarella produced the first hat trick of her career, classmate Lily Dixon dished out three assists, while rookie Payton Tini scored two goals in the loss. Senior goalkeeper Sophia Cardello stopped 10 shots in the loss.

Spilis Unanimous All-Big Ten Selection

Cassidy Spilis earned First Team All-Big Ten laurels, announced Wednesday by the conference office. It marks the fourth consecutive season Spilis has landed on the first team all-conference list, as the Tabernacle, New Jersey, native was one of just five-student athletes from across the league to earn unanimous first team recognition this season.
Spilis has tallied 72 points on 68 goals and four helpers this season to go along with 89 draw controls, 36 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers in 16 games during the 2024 campaign. Her 68 goals lead the Big Ten and are second nationally. Spilis also finished the regular season second in the Big Ten in caused turnovers per game (1.94) and goals per game (4.25), third in points (72), and fourth in draw controls per game (5.56), ground balls per game (2.19) and points per game (4.50).

Spilis Sets Records

In 79 career games, Spilis owns 274 points on 260 goals and 14 assists to go along with 304 draw controls, 146 ground balls and 97 caused turnovers. Spilis' 274 points and 260 goals are both career records at Rutgers, while she needs just five more draw controls for the most in school history at 309.

Cardello Strong Between the Pipes

Sophia Cardello is currently third in the Big Ten with a 10.77 goals against average and is also fourth in the conference in save percentage (.456), saves (136) and saves per game (8.50).
Cardello is fourth in program history with 538 career saves. Cardello is also tied for sixth among active career leaders in that category.

Maryland Scarlet Knights

Rutgers has five Maryland natives on this year's roster – Erin Devine (Clarksville), Lily Dixon (Grasonville), Keeley McNemar (Millersville), Lauren Messinese (Manchester) and Cate O'Ferrall (Catonsville).

Scouting Maryland and Series History

The Terrapins enter Saturday with 12 victories on the season, defeating No. 17 Princeton, 16-12, last Wednesday in their last time out.
Maryland ranks second in the Big Ten and 13^th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 8.81 goals per game. UMD's goalkeeper, Emily Sterling, leads the Big Ten with 150 saves and ranks fourth in the country with a .524 save percentage.
Hannah Leubecker leads the Terrapins with 45 goals this season, while Eloise Clevenger has dished out a conference-best 47 assists.
Maryland leads the all-time series with Rutgers, 26-1, which includes a 13-8 victory over the Scarlet Knights earlier this season in College Park.

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