Trio Set to Return to Women’s Lacrosse in 2027
Jun 02 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Three senior standouts – Katie Buck, Ava Chiarella and Olivia Pikiell – will all return to Rutgers women's lacrosse for the 2027 campaign. The trio helped the Scarlet Knights to their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history this past season.
Buck established herself as one of the top draw takers in the country this season. The Moorestown, New Jersey, native produced 166 draw controls, which was good for second in the Big Ten. In 20 games, Buck finished with 166 draw controls, 30 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers – all team highs.
Buck's 166 draw controls are a single-season program record, while her career-high 16 draw controls against Oregon on April 12 set a school single-game record. Buck reset the single-game draw control record three times this spring. She finished 2026 as a First Team All-Big Ten selection, Second Team IWLCA All-Region pick and an honorable mention All-American by ILWomen and USA Lacrosse Magazine.
Chiarella started the first 15 games of the 2026 campaign in the midfield before suffering season-ending injury on April 12 against Oregon. She closed this past spring with 13 points on nine goals and four assists along with 10 ground balls.
The Brielle, New Jersey, native has appeared in 48 career games during her time "On the Banks," producing 45 points on 35 goals and 10 assists along with 33 ground balls, 15 draw controls and 13 caused turnovers.
Pikiell, who missed the entire 2026 season after sustaining an injury during fall ball, arrived "On the Banks" as a graduate transfer from North Carolina. Pikiell appeared in 15 games for UNC during her most recent collegiate season in 2025, helping the Tar Heels secure the program's fourth NCAA title in school history.
Pikiell played in 43 career games for North Carolina from 2022 to 2025, as UNC produced a 60-12 record and two national titles during her time in Chapel Hill. One of the top recruits in the country before her arrival at North Carolina, Pikiell earned All-America laurels and all-conference accolades at Ridge High School.
Navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country, the Scarlet Knights closed the 2026 campaign with their most overall wins (11) and Big Ten wins (4) since 2022. The campaign was capped with the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Melissa Lehman, where RU delivered a 12-11 win over No. 17 Princeton in the opening round of the championships.
Buck established herself as one of the top draw takers in the country this season. The Moorestown, New Jersey, native produced 166 draw controls, which was good for second in the Big Ten. In 20 games, Buck finished with 166 draw controls, 30 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers – all team highs.
Buck's 166 draw controls are a single-season program record, while her career-high 16 draw controls against Oregon on April 12 set a school single-game record. Buck reset the single-game draw control record three times this spring. She finished 2026 as a First Team All-Big Ten selection, Second Team IWLCA All-Region pick and an honorable mention All-American by ILWomen and USA Lacrosse Magazine.
Chiarella started the first 15 games of the 2026 campaign in the midfield before suffering season-ending injury on April 12 against Oregon. She closed this past spring with 13 points on nine goals and four assists along with 10 ground balls.
The Brielle, New Jersey, native has appeared in 48 career games during her time "On the Banks," producing 45 points on 35 goals and 10 assists along with 33 ground balls, 15 draw controls and 13 caused turnovers.
Pikiell, who missed the entire 2026 season after sustaining an injury during fall ball, arrived "On the Banks" as a graduate transfer from North Carolina. Pikiell appeared in 15 games for UNC during her most recent collegiate season in 2025, helping the Tar Heels secure the program's fourth NCAA title in school history.
Pikiell played in 43 career games for North Carolina from 2022 to 2025, as UNC produced a 60-12 record and two national titles during her time in Chapel Hill. One of the top recruits in the country before her arrival at North Carolina, Pikiell earned All-America laurels and all-conference accolades at Ridge High School.
Navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country, the Scarlet Knights closed the 2026 campaign with their most overall wins (11) and Big Ten wins (4) since 2022. The campaign was capped with the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Melissa Lehman, where RU delivered a 12-11 win over No. 17 Princeton in the opening round of the championships.
Players Mentioned
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Monday, April 13
