PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (4-2) hits the road to face Hofstra (5-1) on Saturday in Hempstead, New York. First draw from James M. Shuart Stadium is set for noon, with the game broadcast on Flo College.
 
For fans making the trip to Long Island, tickets can be purchased on HofstraTickets.com, by calling (516) HOF-TIXX, or by stopping by the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office in the lobby of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex during normal business hours.
 
The Scarlet Knights enter weekend play fresh of their 12-11 double-overtime victory against No. 16 Stony Brook on Wednesday in Piscataway. Battling 40-mile-per-hour wind gusts and pouring rain, junior Lily Dixon found sophomore Payton Tini for the game winner in second overtime to secure RU's first win over a ranked opponent this season.
 

Opening Draw

Sutley Provides Spark during Rookie Campaign
By Bradly Derechailo
 
Attacker Delainey Sutley admits she was a nervous down the stretch in Rutgers women's lacrosse matchup with No. 16 Stony Brook this past Wednesday.
 
She did an incredible job of maintaining her composure, as the rookie played a major role in the Scarlet Knights' double-overtime victory over the Seawolves. Sutley tallied two points in the midweek matchup, including a critical goal in the fourth quarter that proved to be RU's last in regulation.
 
When Payton Tini drilled the golden goal in the second overtime period, Sutley was overjoyed for her teammate.
 
'That win was so awesome," Sutley said. "Down the stretch, I'll admit I was a bit nervous, but I was so happy that we got it done. It felt good to contribute, but it was an overall team effort."
 
Sutley has put together an impressive freshman campaign for Rutgers, which brings its 4-2 record this Saturday to Hofstra (12 p.m., Flo College). In six games, Sutley has produced 13 points on nine goals and four assists, with her 13 points fourth on the team.


 
The Ocean City, New Jersey, native has contributed four multi-point games for the Scarlet Knights, including a career-high five with three points and two helpers in RU's win over Le Moyne last month. Sutley combined five points in back-to-back wins against Delaware and Monmouth during the second week of the season to secure Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades.
 
"It was awesome," Sutley said of the conference recognition. "My teammates were so happy for me and were so pimped for me. It's so great to have that kind of support around you."

She has enjoyed all of this early success despite switching to a new role within the offense. Sutley moved from midfield at the beginning of the fall to attack – now playing down below X.
 
She credits her coaches, teammates and her father, Michael, for helping make the transition.

"I've just been able to get to know all of my teammates better and I've been able to learn from those who have played my position," Sutley said. "Everyone has been really helpful. It took a lot of time and effort to get to the place I'm at now. It's just such a different position down below X, so I had to learn all of these new sets of moves, elevate my IQ to look for cutters and make fast decisions."
 
A standout scholastic player, Sutley produced 245 career points on 216 goals and 29 assists during her career at Ocean City High School. As a senior in 2024, Sutley helped the Red Raiders to 17 victories, a Cape-Atlantic League championship and a NJSIAA South Jersey, Group III semifinal appearance. Sutley netted 87 points on 73 goals and 14 assists during her final high school season en route to all-state laurels and Cape-Atlantic League Player of the Year honors.
 
 The fact Sutley's scoring ability has translated to the Big Ten is no surprise to head coach Melissa Lehman.
 
"I'm really excited about Delainey and how she has broken out as a freshman," Lehman said. "She's extremely composed and confident out there, and she's pretty fearless when it comes to going to goal. She just has a knack for making plays and has really good timing. It's been awesome to see her break out so early in her career.
 
"We saw her talent in high school, and we were excited to get someone from New Jersey with her talent and her ability for goal scoring. She just had to find her confidence within herself, but she has hit the ground running which has been great to see."


 
Sutley is one of 11 true freshmen for Lehman this spring, which includes classmates Sienna Cassella, Bianca Chiarella, Caitlin Collins, Hilary Elsner, Caroline Ling, Nora Maione, Maddie Miceli, Stella Quilty, Charlee Thomas and Francesca Urtis. Cassella, Chiarella, Micelli, Sutley and Thomas have all started games this season, while Elsner and Ling have both contributed scoring.
 
"We asked all of them to come in and compete, and I think they are just playing to make a difference out there," Lehman said. "They're not over thinking that much with that. What we want to see from the freshmen is just them doing the little things right, go hard and elevate this program."
 
Sutley believes her and the rest of her classmates are getting more comfortable each passing day, which she credits to the mentorship from the upperclassman.
 
There are more opportunities ahead for the rookies to showcase their talent, beginning this weekend on Long Island. Sutley is confident her and the rest of her classmates will be able to help any way they can.
 
"It's something we definitely talk about," Sutley said. "We're grateful to be contributing on this team at such a young age. As the season has progressed, we've gotten more and more comfortable."
 

Last Time Out

• Rutgers defeated No. 16 Stony Brook, 12-11, in a double-overtime thriller on Wednesday at SHI Stadium. With the ball to start the second overtime period, RU took its time to set up the game-winning play. With 2:21 left, Dixon found Tini in the middle of the crease, who spun past a defender and drilled a shot past goalkeeper Natalia Altebrando for the golden goal.
• The victory was RU's second over the Seawolves in three seasons dating back to 2023, when Rutgers defeated then-No. 6 Stony Brook, 12-7, for the program's highest-ranked win in regular season action. The victory also moved the Scarlet Knights to 3-0 at SHI Stadium in 2025.
• RU held its lead over the Seawolves for the majority of the game and won the 50-50 battle, 16-11, thanks to junior Katie Buck's 10 draw controls. Graduate goalkeeper Lexie Coldiron was outstanding in cage, stopping a career-high 19 shots for her fourth win of the season.
• Dixon and senior Alexa Corbin both produced five points, with Corbin finishing with a team-high four assists. Dixon and redshirt freshman Samantha Swanovich each added a hat trick, while Tini pitched in two goals on the afternoon. Junior Ava Chiarella and freshman Delainey Sutley both had two points.

What to Know

• Wednesday's win over No. 16 Stony Brook was the program's 17th victory over a ranked opponent under head coach Melissa Lehman. Rutgers has picked up at least one ranked victory in each season dating back to 2021.
• Coldiron leads the Big Ten in saves (72) and saves per game (12.00), also ranking third and fifth in those categories, respectively. Coldiron is second in the conference and third in the country with a .590 save percentage, and is fifth in the Big Ten with a 9.14 goals-against average. Coldiron has tallied double-digit saves in four of her first five games, including a career-high 19 on Wednesday against Stony Brook.
• Buck is third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally with 8.33 draw controls per game. Her 50 draw controls are fourth in the Big Ten.
• Dixon needs 19 points to become the 28th player in school history to hit 100 for her career.
• Senior Madison Karpe needs nine ground balls to hit 100 for her career.

About Hofstra

• The Pride enter Saturday with a 5-1 record after it defeated Wagner, 18-6, on Tuesday. Hofstra also owns wins over Fairfield, Manhattan and Marist this season.
• Hofstra leads the CAA and is 18 nationally in scoring defense (8.83) and points per game (21.50).
• Nikki Mennella leads the Pride with 34 points this season on 18 goals and 16 assists. Kayleigh Bender has added 17 goals.
• Rutgers leads the all-time series with Hofstra, 24-10. The Scarlet Knights have played the Pride more than any other school in program history.
• RU defeated Hofstra, 14-8, last season in Piscataway. Victoria Goldrick tallied a career-high six points on four assists and two goals, Dixon dished out five assists, while Michelle Warren added a hat trick in the win.

Up Next

• Rutgers hosts in-state foe No. 12 Princeton on Wednesday at SHI Stadium. First draw under the lights is set for 7 p.m., with the game streamed on Big Ten Plus.