Rutgers University
Delaware
Women’s Lacrosse Competes at Delaware Friday
Feb 11 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (0-1) faces Delaware (0-1) on Friday in Newark, Delaware. First draw from Delaware Stadium is set for 5 p.m., with the game streamed on ESPN+.
Three of the Scarlet Knights' next four games occur on the road, including stops at Delaware, Villanova (Feb. 21) and No. 7 Princeton (Feb. 25).
| Last Time Out |
• RU opened its season with a 19-14 loss to No. 21 Army last Friday inside the Busch Practice Bubble. Rutgers trailed by just one goal at halftime before the Black Knights outscored the Scarlet Knights, 10-6, in the final 30 minutes.
• Sophomore Caroline Ling produced a career-high six points on five goals and an assist, netting a hat trick in the first half. Senior Lily Dixon tallied five points on three assists and two helpers, while rookies Annalise Messina and Kate Theofield contributed two goals apiece.
| Buck Reaches 100 |
• Senior Katie Buck secured a game-high eight draw controls against Army, becoming the 11th player in program history to hit 100 draw controls for her career. Her 105 career draw controls rank 11th in program history, as the Moorestown native needs 10 to pass Alana Navaroli (2015-18) and Jenny Vlahos (2012-14) for ninth on the program's all-time list.
| Career Debuts |
• Head coach Melissa Lehman played five true freshman last Friday – Messina, Theofield, Stella D'Ambro, Abigail Grove and Gabby Mariani. Messina and Theofield both scored twice, while Mariani caused a turnover and scooped up a ground ball.
| Tough Schedule |
• Including last week's matchup with Army, Rutgers is set to play eight programs ranked in the latest IWLCA Coaches Poll – No. 2 Northwestern, No. 6 Maryland, No. 7 Princeton, No. 8 Johns Hopkins, No. 17 Michigan, No. 18 Stony Brook, No. 20 Army and No. 23 Penn State.
| Upcoming Milestones |
• Lily Dixon
- With her three assists last Friday, Dixon needs one assist to pass Meghan Flanagan (2007-10) for fourth on the all-time assists list at Rutgers.
- After her five points against Army, Dixon needs 10 to pass Kristina Dunphey (2014-17) for 20th in program history.
• Payton Tini
- Tini enters the season needing 45 points to become the 28th student-athlete in program history to hit 100 for her career.
| Against Delaware |
• The Blue Hens enter Friday's game after losing at Temple, 12-10, last Friday in Philadelphia. Despite leading 6-3 at halftime, Delaware was outscored 9-4 in the final 30 minutes.
• Morgan Gore and Ella Rishko each tallied hat tricks in the loss. Rishko also secured nine draw controls to help the Blue Hens to a 16-8 advantage in the center circle.
• Delaware leads the all-time series, 17-16. However, Rutgers has won 10 out of the last 14 matchups dating back to 2009, including the past five meetings.
• The Scarlet Knights earned a 13-9 win over the Blue Hens last season at SHI Stadium. Dixon tied a then-career high with six points on three goals and three assists, while Samantha Swanovich produced her first career hat trick.
| Up Next |
• Rutgers hosts Monmouth Feb. 28 at SHI Stadium. First draw is set for 6 p.m., with the game streamed on Big Ten Plus.
