Saturday, March 28
Los Angeles, Calif.
6 PM
Rutgers University
7-4, 2-1Big Ten
15
at
8
USC
6-7, 0-5Big Ten
1st quarter1
2nd quarter2
3rd quarter3
4th quarter4
FinalF
Rutgers
5
4
3
3
15
USC
2
2
2
2
8
Photo by: USC Athletics
Women’s Lacrosse Tops USC, 15-8
Mar 28 | Women's Lacrosse
LOS ANGELES – Rutgers women's lacrosse (7-4, 2-1) defeated USC (6-7, 0-5), 15-8, on Saturday at Rawlinson Stadium. It marked the second consecutive Big Ten Conference victory for the Scarlet Knights, who also secured their first ever win over the Trojans in program history.
RU scored on 60 percent of its shots against USC, as sophomore Caroline Ling netted a game-high five goals along with two assists. Rookie Kate Theofield added four goals, while classmate Annalise Messina contributed two. Senior Lily Dixon dished out four assists, setting a career best for helpers in a season at 37.
Rutgers' defense allowed just eight goals for the second consecutive outing. Sophomore Stella Quilty stopped 12 USC shots, while the Scarlet Knights forced the home team into 12 turnovers. Senior Katie Buck secured a game-high six draw controls.
USC earned a 2-1 lead before Rutgers countered with a 7-0 scoring run that stretched the first two quarters. Ling netted two goals during the first-quarter run, while a nice pass from Dixon to sophomore Hilary Elsner in the closing seconds made it 5-2 Scarlet Knights at the end of the opening period.
RU continued to dominate offensively with three straight goals out of the first break. Senior Kayleigh Coughlin rocketed her third goal of the season, Theofield drilled a free position attempt, and Buck intercepted a pass and went coast-to-coast to find Ling for the score at the other end. Ling's third goal of the night made it 8-2 Rutgers at the 7:21 mark in the second.
The Trojans responded with back-to-back goals, but Elsner found Theofield to make it 9-4 at halftime. Quilty finished the first half with four saves, while RU's defense forced USC into four turnovers at the midpoint.
The home team added two goals out of the locker room, but Rutgers closed the third quarter with a 3-0 scoring run. Ling found sophomore Delainey Sutley for her first of the night, while Theofield and Messina score back-to-back goals for a 12-6 lead with 15 minutes to play.
USC got it back to a four-goal game before the Scarlet Knights once again registered a 3-0 scoring run to ice the game. Ling drilled two consecutive goals and freshman Gabby Mariani added insurance to help RU to a 15-8 final.
Up Next
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.
RU scored on 60 percent of its shots against USC, as sophomore Caroline Ling netted a game-high five goals along with two assists. Rookie Kate Theofield added four goals, while classmate Annalise Messina contributed two. Senior Lily Dixon dished out four assists, setting a career best for helpers in a season at 37.
Rutgers' defense allowed just eight goals for the second consecutive outing. Sophomore Stella Quilty stopped 12 USC shots, while the Scarlet Knights forced the home team into 12 turnovers. Senior Katie Buck secured a game-high six draw controls.
USC earned a 2-1 lead before Rutgers countered with a 7-0 scoring run that stretched the first two quarters. Ling netted two goals during the first-quarter run, while a nice pass from Dixon to sophomore Hilary Elsner in the closing seconds made it 5-2 Scarlet Knights at the end of the opening period.
RU continued to dominate offensively with three straight goals out of the first break. Senior Kayleigh Coughlin rocketed her third goal of the season, Theofield drilled a free position attempt, and Buck intercepted a pass and went coast-to-coast to find Ling for the score at the other end. Ling's third goal of the night made it 8-2 Rutgers at the 7:21 mark in the second.
The Trojans responded with back-to-back goals, but Elsner found Theofield to make it 9-4 at halftime. Quilty finished the first half with four saves, while RU's defense forced USC into four turnovers at the midpoint.
The home team added two goals out of the locker room, but Rutgers closed the third quarter with a 3-0 scoring run. Ling found sophomore Delainey Sutley for her first of the night, while Theofield and Messina score back-to-back goals for a 12-6 lead with 15 minutes to play.
USC got it back to a four-goal game before the Scarlet Knights once again registered a 3-0 scoring run to ice the game. Ling drilled two consecutive goals and freshman Gabby Mariani added insurance to help RU to a 15-8 final.
Up Next
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.
Team Stats
RUTGERS
USC
Shots
25
33
Turnovers
13
12
Caused Turnovers
9
8
Draw Controls
9
15
Free-Position Shots
4
7
Ground Balls
13
12
Game Leaders
G
5
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
4
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-60
GB
1
CT
2
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A/M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseWomen's Lacrosse vs. USC Highlights | 3/28/2026
Sunday, March 29
Women's Lacrosse vs. No. 25 Ohio State Highlights | 3/19/2026
Friday, March 20
Women's Lacrosse vs. No. 8 Johns Hopkins Highlights | 3/15/2026
Monday, March 16
Rutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
