Rutgers University
USC
Women’s Lacrosse Begins West Coast Trip Saturday at USC on BTN
Mar 26 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (6-4, 1-1) begins a two-game road swing on the West Coast when it faces USC (6-6, 0-4) on Saturday in Los Angeles. First draw is set for a 6 p.m. national broadcast on Big Ten Network, with Dean Linke and Izzy Scane on the call.
The Scarlet Knights also play at San Diego State on March 30 during their games out west. This weekend marks just the second trip to the West Coast in program history and third outside EST and CST, as RU owns wins over Oregon (March 16, 2025) and Denver (March 20, 2010) in previous games west of the Mississippi River.
Rutgers enters the weekend after downing No. 25 Ohio State, 9-8, last Thursday in Columbus. The win over the Buckeyes marked the first against a ranked opponent this spring and the 19th since the 2021 season under head coach Melissa Lehman. A win Saturday against the Trojans would move the Scarlet Knights to 2-1 in league play for the second consecutive year.
| Last Time Out |
• RU earned a 9-8 road win at No. 25 Ohio State last Thursday at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. Tied 8-8 during the game's final possession, Ohio native Caroline Ling found freshman Annalise Messina for the game winner in the closing seconds to secure Rutgers' first Big Ten Conference win of the season.
• Ling, who grew up just over an hour away in Springboro, Ohio, finished with a game-high five points on three goals and two assists. Senior Lily Dixon dished out a game-high three assists, while rookies Messina and Kate Theofield added two goals apiece off the bench.
• RU's defense was outstanding against the Buckeyes, holding the home team to just 21 shots while forcing OSU into 19 turnovers. Rookie Gabby Mariani set career highs with four caused turnover and three ground balls. Sophomore Charlee Thomas and senior Katie Buck helped Rutgers to an 11-8 advantage on the 50-50 opportunities with four and three draw controls, respectively.
| Building a Resume |
• The Scarlet Knights enter the week with the third-hardest schedule in the NCAA, with RU's pervious opponents owning a combined .716 winning percentage. Rutgers also move to No. 11 in the latest RPI released earlier this week.
• The Scarlet Knights have already faced five opponents ranked in this week's IWLCA Coaches Poll and are set to finish with four ranked opponents in their final five games of the regular season. The list includes No. 3 Maryland, No. 5 Michigan, No. 7 Johns Hopkins, No. 11 Northwestern, No. 12 Stony Brook, No. 15 Princeton, No. 18 Army, No. 21 Penn State and No. 25 Ohio State.
• Thanks to its win over the Buckeyes, Rutgers received votes in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, the USA Lacrosse Magazine Top 20 and the KANE Women's Division I Media Poll (IL Women).
| Back-To-Back B1G Freshman of the Week |
• Rookies Annalise Messina and Kate Theofield were named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks. It marks the first time in program history Rutgers has had different rookies earn the award in consecutive weeks.
| #SCTop10 Regulars |
• Rutgers has appeared on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays four times this spring thanks to highlight goals from Theofield and sophomore Delainey Sutley.
- Delainey Sutley vs. Monmouth
- Kate Theofield at No. 14 Princeton
- Kate Theofield vs. Hofstra
- Kate Theofield vs. No. 8 Johns Hopkins
| Dixon the Facilitator |
• Senior Lily Dixon is second in the Big Ten and ninth in the NCAA with 33 assists this season, while her 3.30 assists per game lead the conference. Dixon has dished out multiple helpers in all but one game this season, including contributing three or more assists six times.
• Dixon, who already tied her career-high with 33 assists this season, is seven away from passing Steph Kelly (2022) for the program's single-season record.
| Buck Shines on the Draw |
• Senior Katie Buck has established herself as one of the top draw takers in the country this season. The Moorestown, New Jersey, native is second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with 9.30 draw controls per game. Buck has secured eight or more draw controls eight times this season and has reset her program single-game draw control record twice this spring.
• Buck is five draw controls away from 100 on the season and needs eight to become fourth player in school history to hit 200 for her career.
| Ling on the Offensive |
• Sophomore Caroline Ling has been one of the top scorers in the country this season. The Springboro, Ohio, native is third in the Big Ten and 11th nationally with 37 goals, also ranking 11th in the country with 3.70 goals per game. Her 52 points are 12th nationally and fourth in the conference, while her 5.80 shots on goal per game rank fourth.
| Youth Movement |
• Rutgers has had quality offensive production from its sophomores and freshmen this season. Underclassman have accounted for 78 percent of the team's goals (104 out of 133) and 67 percent of the team's points (147 out of 218) this spring.
| About USC |
• The Trojans own a 6-6 record this season, losing 13-7 at No. 3 Maryland on Sunday in their last time out. USC has faced No. 3 Maryland, No. 7 Michigan, No. 8 Johns Hopkins and No. 18 Penn State already this season - all loses.
• Emma Buntin is seventh in the Big Ten with 1.82 assists per game this season and leads the team with 33 points on 20 assists and 13 goals. Anna Ragen is eighth in the conference with 5.73 draw controls per game, while Ellie Thomas is 5-3 with a 12.64 GAA and .339 save percentage.
• USC won last year's initial meeting, 13-4, on April 10, 2025 in Piscataway.
• Former RU standout Cassidy Spilis begins her second year on staff with the Trojans. A three-time IWLCA All-American and two-time Big Ten Midfielder of the Year for the Scarlet Knights from 2020-24, Spilis finished her career as the program leader in points (281), goals (266), and draw controls (313).
| Next Time Out |
• Rutgers competes at San Diego State next Monday in San Diego. First draw is set for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on SDSU's Athletics YouTube channel.
