PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse head coach Melissa Lehman has announced Katie Buck, Ava Chiarella, Lily Dixon, Gianna Macrino and Olivia Pikiell as team captains for the 2026 campaign.
 
A two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten selection, Buck has appeared in 21 career games during her time 'On the Banks.' A native of Moorestown, New Jersey, Buck started all 18 games last season on attack, finishing with a team-high 97 draw controls. Her 97 draw controls were sixth best in the Big Ten Conference, as Buck produced eight or more draw controls seven times last spring.
 
Also a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten selection, Chiarella enters her senior season with 33 career appearances in the midfield. Chiarella played in all 18 games with 11 starts last season, tying for sixth on the team with 20 points on 16 goals and four helpers. Chiarella also contributed 16 ground balls and nine caused turnovers last spring.
 
One of the top scorers in the Big Ten, Dixon enters her senior season with 111 points on 72 assists and 39 goals in 50 career games for the Scarlet Knights. Dixon became the 28th player in program history to hit 100 points for her career, finishing last season with a team-high 50 points on 33 assists and 17 goals to go along with 31 draw controls, 28 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers. A native of Grasonville, Maryland, Dixon is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2024 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
 
Macrino enters her junior season with six career appearances, including four in the midfield last spring. Macrino netted her first career goal last season in RU's road victory at Monmouth and also added a score in the win over Le Moyne. The Fairfield, New Jersey, native was a 2025 Spring Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
 
A graduate transfer from North Carolina, Pikiell appeared in 15 games for the Tar Heels during the 2025 campaign, helping UNC secure the program's fourth NCAA title in school history this past season. Pikiell played in 43 career games for North Carolina from 2022-25, as UNC produced a 60-12 record and two national titles during her time in Chapel Hill. A Far Hills, New Jersey, native, Pikiell earned All-America laurels and all-conference accolades at Ridge High School.
 
Rutgers wrapped up last season with eight victories, including ranked wins over No. 16 Stony Brook and No. 21 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights advanced to the Big Ten Tournament for the fifth consecutive season under Lehman and faced 11 opponents who appeared in the IWLCA Coaches Poll this spring.