Women’s Lacrosse Treks to No. 12 Stony Brook Wednesday Night
Mar 09 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (5-2) faces No. 12 Stony Brook (4-2) on Wednesday night at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. First draw on Long Island is set for 6 p.m., with the game streamed on Flo College.
The Scarlet Knights enter the week off a 17-16 victory at Temple last Saturday in Philadelphia. Down 9-8 at halftime, RU used an 8-2 third quarter to defeat the previously undefeated Owls, who were ranked No. 19 in last week's USA Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20.
Receiving votes in this week's ILWomen/Kane Women's Division I Media Poll, Rutgers is seventh in the country in clearing percentage (.946), ninth in assists per game (9.00), ninth in points per game (23.86) and 10th in draw controls per game (16.71).
The Scarlet Knights begin a stretch of six games against ranked opponents and eight versus Big Ten Conference foes in their final 10 games of the regular season. The No. 10 hardest schedule in the country according to the NCAA features No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Northwestern, No. 7 Michigan, No. 8 Johns Hopkins, No. 12 Stony Brook and No. 18 Penn State.
| Last Time Out |
• Rutgers defeated Temple, 17-16, last weekend at Howard Field. Sophomore Caroline Ling produced another impressive offensive outing, finishing with a career-high eight goals on 10 shots to pace RU's attack. Classmate Hilary Elsner netted a hat trick, while senior captain Ava Chiarella tallied two goals.
• Senior captain Katie Buck enjoyed another monster game in center circle, finishing with a game-high 12 draw controls. Junior Payton Tini and freshman Gabby Mariani each forced two turnovers, while sophomore Maddie Miceli scooped up a team-high four ground balls.
| Ling on the Offensive |
• Ling has been on a tear for Rutgers, netting five or more goals in three of her past four outings. The Springboro, Ohio, native is fifth in the country with 4.14 goals per game, while her 29 scores rank second in the Big Ten. Ling is also third in the conference with 37 points this season.
| Buck Shines on the Draw |
• Buck has been one of the top draw takers in the country this season. Securing 12 or more draw controls in four consecutive games. Buck set a single-game program record with 14 against Hofstra on Feb. 28 at SHI Stadium during the streak.
• The Moorestown, New Jersey, native leads the Big Ten and is 12th nationally with 9.57 draw controls per game.
| Dixon the Faciliator |
• Dixon has dished out a team-high 24 assists this spring, good for second in the Big Ten and seventh in the country. Her 3.43 assists per game lead the conference and are fifth in the NCAA.
• The Grasonville, Maryland, native is 10 assists away from setting a career high for assists in a season. Dixon is just 16 away from passing Steph Kelly (2022) for the program's single-season record.
| Against Stony Brook |
• The Seawolves enter the midweek ranked No. 12 in the latest IWLCA Coaches Poll after losing at then-No. 9 Johns Hopkins on Sunday, 13-11. Down 11-7 in the fourth quarter, Stony Brook closed the game with a 4-2 scoring before losing to the Blue Jays on the road.
• The Seawolves have played four ranked opponents in their first six games, which includes wins over then-No. 15 Colorado (9-7) and then-No. 19 Denver (12-11). Stony Brook also lost to No. 4 Northwestern, 13-12, Feb. 28 at home.
• Stony Brook owns the No. 3 scoring defense (6.33) in the country and is second nationally with a .971 clearing percentage.
• Goalkeeper Ava Yancey is 22nd nationally with a 9.06 goals-against average. Isabella Caporuscio leads the team with 23 points on 18 goals and five assists.
• Stony Brook leads the all-time series with Rutgers, 5-2, but the Scarlet Knights have won two of the last three meetings. RU delivered a thrilling 12-11 overtime win in the rain last season - one of two ranked wins for the program last spring.
| Up Next |
• Rutgers hosts No. 8 Johns Hopkins on Sunday at SHI Stadium. First draw is set for 1 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
