Friday, August 29
Piscataway, N.J.
11:00 AM
Rutgers University
5
vs
1
Wagner
No. 16 Field Hockey Dominates Wagner in Season Opener
Aug 29 | Field Hockey
Five Different Players Tally Goals in 5-1 Win
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 16 Rutgers field hockey opened up the 2025 season with a dominant victory over visiting Wagner, clipping the Seahawks by a 5-1 final margin. Rutgers saw five different players score goals on the day to cruise to the victory and a 1-0 start to the campaign.
Maddie Kidd, Lyla Rehill, Maddie Olshemski, Olivia de Zwaan and Olivia Fraticelli scored the goals for RU. For Kidd, it marked her first goal as a Scarlet Knight, while the other four players notched their first collegiate goal.
The Scarlet Knights controlled the play throughout the game. RU first got on the scoreboard just under seven minutes into the game, and outshot Wagner by a 22-6 overall margin, including a 19-2 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes of the contest. Goalkeeper Emily Nicholls earned her first collegiate win, playing the first 45 minutes, allowing no goals and making two saves. RU also had a 5-2 margin on corners.
The first goal of the season came off the stick of Maddie Kidd. Keeping the pressure on the defense inside the circle, Kidd gained possession and flipped up a shot over the goalkeeper and into the net for an early 1-0 lead.
It was a freshman who struck next for RU. Lyla Rehill intercepted a defender's clearing attempt and fired a shot into an opening in the cage for a 2-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Just three minutes later, RU tallied again via a blast from Maddie Olshemski. Captain Paulina Niklaus sent a cross-field pass, and Olshemski carried into the circle and let loose a howitzer from the top of the arc for a 3-0 lead.
A freshman-to-freshman connection lead to a fourth goal for RU in the third quarter. Julia Vinas Nieto carried down the far side of the field and slotted a pass for a one-timer for Olivia de Zwaan, who finished in stride for the tally.
Wagner would add one goal in the fourth quarter with Floortje Leunisse scoring. However, RU answered right back just two minutes later. Captain Vicky Jure lifted a pass over the goalkeeper, and Olivia Fraticelli swatted the ball out of midair and into the net for the 5-1 final margin.
With an early 11 a.m. start time, the game was the first Division I contest of the 2025 season. Up next, the Scarlet Knights hit the road to head up to play the University of Vermont. The game against the America East program on Sunday starts at noon.
Gallery: (8-29-2025) Field Hockey Defeats Wagner
Maddie Kidd, Lyla Rehill, Maddie Olshemski, Olivia de Zwaan and Olivia Fraticelli scored the goals for RU. For Kidd, it marked her first goal as a Scarlet Knight, while the other four players notched their first collegiate goal.
The Scarlet Knights controlled the play throughout the game. RU first got on the scoreboard just under seven minutes into the game, and outshot Wagner by a 22-6 overall margin, including a 19-2 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes of the contest. Goalkeeper Emily Nicholls earned her first collegiate win, playing the first 45 minutes, allowing no goals and making two saves. RU also had a 5-2 margin on corners.
| Game Summary |
The first goal of the season came off the stick of Maddie Kidd. Keeping the pressure on the defense inside the circle, Kidd gained possession and flipped up a shot over the goalkeeper and into the net for an early 1-0 lead.
It was a freshman who struck next for RU. Lyla Rehill intercepted a defender's clearing attempt and fired a shot into an opening in the cage for a 2-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Just three minutes later, RU tallied again via a blast from Maddie Olshemski. Captain Paulina Niklaus sent a cross-field pass, and Olshemski carried into the circle and let loose a howitzer from the top of the arc for a 3-0 lead.
A freshman-to-freshman connection lead to a fourth goal for RU in the third quarter. Julia Vinas Nieto carried down the far side of the field and slotted a pass for a one-timer for Olivia de Zwaan, who finished in stride for the tally.
Wagner would add one goal in the fourth quarter with Floortje Leunisse scoring. However, RU answered right back just two minutes later. Captain Vicky Jure lifted a pass over the goalkeeper, and Olivia Fraticelli swatted the ball out of midair and into the net for the 5-1 final margin.
With an early 11 a.m. start time, the game was the first Division I contest of the 2025 season. Up next, the Scarlet Knights hit the road to head up to play the University of Vermont. The game against the America East program on Sunday starts at noon.
| Postgame Notes |
- Six freshmen or redshirt freshmen made their collegiate debut: Emily Nicholls, Martha Goodridge, Olivia de Zwaan, Julia Vinas Nieto, Caroline DeKenipp and Lyla Rehill.
- Rutgers improved to 12-2 in season openers under head coach Meredith Civico
- RU is now 14-5 against non-conference foes over the past two seasons.
| Video Highlights |
5 different players had their first goal as Scarlet Knight in the season opening win over Wagner! pic.twitter.com/vniPAbqmrq
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) August 29, 2025
Players Mentioned
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