WEST POINT, N.Y. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (0-1) lost a 10-9 heartbreaker at Army (1-0) to open its 2025 season on Saturday in West Point, N.Y. Tied 9-9 during the final possession of the game, the Black Knights scored with one second left In regulation, as Allison Reilly found Ryan Remaly to secure the win at Michie Stadium.
 
Eight Scarlet Knights accounted for nine goals, led by two from junior Ava Chiarella. Classmate Lily Dixon tallied three points on two assists and a score. Junior Katie Buck, redshirt freshman Samantha Swanovich, and freshmen Caroline Ling and Maddie Miceli all netted their first collegiate goals.
 
Graduate student Lexie Coldiron shined in her Rutgers debut between the pipes, finishing with 13 saves. Buck muscled a career and game-high 11 draw controls, helping the Scarlet Knights work a 13-9 advantage off the restart. Along with her team-high three points, Dixon added three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
 
The Scarlet Knights raced out to a quick 3-0 off the first draw. Senior Victoria Goldrick found Swanovich for the first score of the season one minute into the contest. Sophomore Payton Tini followed with her first, while a quick goal from Goldrick made it 3-0 Rutgers with 11 minutes left in the opening quarter.
 
Army added a late goal in the opening 15 to make it 3-1 Scarlet Knights at the end of one.
 
The Black Knights worked back-to-back goals out of the first break, including a goal from All-American Brigid Duffy with 9:38 left before halftime to tie the score at 3-3. Dixon and senior Alexa Corbin settled the team down on the next possession. Coming from behind, Dixon forced a turnover, scooped up the ball and dished to Corbin, who took it the rest of the way to give Rutgers back its lead, 4-3.
 
With 4:17 left before the midpoint, Army responded with two consecutive goals to take its first lead of the afternoon at 5-4. The Black Knights tacked on one more to take a 6-4 lead into the locker room.
 
RU held an 8-4 advantage on the draw in the first half, while Coldiron saved five shots in the first 30 minutes.
 
Rutger outscored Army, 4-2, in the third quarter to get back into the game. The run including three consecutive goals over a four-minute period, as Chiarella, Dixon and Ling all muscled goals during the stretch. Dixon's unassisted goal tied the game, while Chiaraella's finish off a pass from Corbin made it 8-7 Scarlet Knights with 3:03 before the final break. The Black Knights added a late goal to once again tie the score, this time at 8-8 at the end of the third.
 
The game remained a back-and-forth affair down the stretch. With 12:21 left to play, Chiarella went left to right, hooking in her second goal of the day to put Rutgers up, 9-8. Army responded on its next possession to tie the game, as the score held 9-9 at the final media timeout with 6:03 left in regulation.
 
Coldiron continued her strong afternoon, saving her 11th shot to keep it 9-9 with 4:30 on the clock. She followed with another highlight stop two minutes later to give the Scarlet Knights another scoring opportunity late.
 
On its final possession, Rutgers turned it over to setup Army's game-winning goal.
 
 
Up Next
Rutgers remains on the road with a trip to Monmouth on Wednesday, Feb. 12 in West Long Branch. First draw is scheduled for 2 p.m.