Following a 2-0 start, Rutgers women’s lax is now ranked

Rutgers women’s lacrosse is ranked this week.

Rutgers women’s lacrosse has two wins in as many games to start the season, leading the Scarlet Knights to be nationally ranked. They are one of six Big Ten teams ranked this week.

In this week’s Inside Lacrosse/IWLCA Coaches Poll, Rutgers went from unranked to No. 24 nationally. It is significant news from Rutgers, after they started the season with a 20-10 win over Manhattan that was followed by a convincing win at Georgetown this past weekend.

They will look to continue their strong start to the season on Wednesday against Monmouth before hosting Army on Saturday. Last year. Army was the first loss of the season for the Scarlet Knights.

It was an up-and-down 2023 for Rutgers as they finished the season 8-9, beating John Hopkins in the Big Ten Tournament before losing to Maryland in the semifinals. They started last season 3-1.

Three Big Ten programs are ranked in the top six this week, led by No. 4 Northwestern followed by Maryland and then Michigan.

 

Rutgers women’s lacrosse promotes Taralyn Naslonski to assistant coach

Rutgers women’s lacrosse has a new assistant coach.

On Wednesday, Rutgers gave Taralyn Naslonski a reason to celebrate. After serving as a volunteer assistant for Rutgers women’s lacrosse this past season, the Scarlet Knights announced that Naslonski had been promoted to assistant coach. While her new role comes with more responsibilities, head coach Melissa Lehman has high expectations.

This past season Naslonski mentored the goalies and was crucial to their success. Under her guidance, Sophia Cardello finished second in the Big Ten and 28th nationally in saves per game (9.06). She also earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

Whether as a coach or as a player, Naslonski has been able to succeed at Rutgers. She holds the program records for career points with 226 and goals with 187. As a player, she was also named a Second Team All-American by the IWLCA and Honorable Mention All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine.

“I am ecstatic about TT becoming a full-time member of our staff,” Lehman said. “TT demonstrated last year that she is one of the bright young minds in the sport. She is passionate about coaching and Rutgers University. We cannot wait to continue to work alongside her as we continue to take Rutgers lacrosse to the next level and build the program into a championship contender.”

 

While Nalonski’s success has been well documented, her new role is one she isn’t taking for granted.

“Rutgers has such a special place in my heart, and being able to continue to represent the ‘Block R’ as an assistant coach means everything to me,” Naslonski told Rutgers athletics. “Working with Melissa and having the trust and support from the rest of the staff is truly an honor. This program has seen tremendous growth within the last few seasons and has set the standard for years to come.”

[lawrence-related id=28618,28615]

Grace Walter preparing for final season in Piscataway with one goal in mind

Grace Walter talks about the upcoming season for Rutgers women’s soccer.

As the Rutgers women’s soccer team prepares for the 2023 season, it will have a different meaning to Grace Walter. The New Jersey native is entering her final season as a Scarlet Knight. For Walter, the decision to return for a fifth year was easy to make.

“The past four years I have had here at Rutgers have been nothing short of amazing,” Walter told ScarletKnights.com.

“Winning Big Ten championships and reaching the Final Four have become standard goals, so we have some unfinished business after last season.”

During her time as Scarlet Knight, the talented goalkeeper has appeared in three games. While her playing time has been limited, Walter’s has made an impact that goes beyond the box score. When the 2023 campaign begins, Walters will be the longest tenured netminder of the three on the Scarlet Knights roster.

While the trio is very close Walter at times has served as a mentor to Olivia Bodmer and Cameron Kennett. Her focus is putting them and the team in the best position to be successful.

[lawrence-related id=27735]

“The three of us are very close already as we have all known each other from a young age,” Walter told Rutgers Athletics. “As someone who is an older mentor, teammate, and friend, I aim to make sure that I’m there for both of them by encouraging them in the long run.

Since stepping foot on Piscataway, Walter has seen some of the biggest moments in program history. That includes Rutgers win over Arkansas to make the College Cup in 2021. While rosters change yearly, Walter has been a positive presence and provided important leadership when needed.

While her role this upcoming season is still to be determined, Walter’s mindset has not changed. Her main goal when the final whistle blows is to be remembered as the confident person she has become while calling Rutgers home.

[lawrence-related id=27792,27786]

Rutgers opens Big Ten lacrosse tournament with thrilling win

Rutgers women’s lacrosse got a big upset on Saturday in the Big Ten Tournament.

Rutgers women’s lacrosse, behind five goals from Cassidy Spilis, pulled off an upset in the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday with a 15-14 win over Johns Hopkins.

The win is big for Rutgers after they struggled in Big Ten play this year, posting a 1-5 record in the regular season. Rutgers kept things close in the first half as John Hopkins outscored them 9-8. However, they took over in the second half when the Blue Jays were expected to pull away.

The Scarlet Knights scored seven goals in the second half while holding John Hopkins to five. Cassidy Spilis led the way offensively with five goals, and Asley Moynahan chipped in with two goals of her own. Rutgers also got a boost in net from Sophia Cardello, who made 11 saves.

With their first upset of the tournament in the books, Rutgers will look to continue their success on Thursday against Maryland. The Terrapins are the second seed and beat Rutgers 16-8 in mid-March.

While the Big Ten tournament has just begun, the first weekend of postseason play was full of unforgettable moments. The winner of the Rutgers and Maryland game will face Michigan on May sixth with a berth in the 2023 NCAA Championship on the line.

[mm-video type=video id=01gz7p8nynq586tdxa9v playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gz7p8nynq586tdxa9v/01gz7p8nynq586tdxa9v-0cf3adb9f70e751ac295f11114612757.jpg]

Rutgers women’s lacrosse rallies to defeat Buckeyes in overtime

Rutgers women’s lacrosse (7-7, 1-5) came from behind to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-10, 0-6) 13-12 in a thrilling overtime victory.

Rutgers women’s lacrosse (7-7, 1-5) came from behind to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-10, 0-6) 13-12 in a thrilling overtime victory Thursday night. This victory marks Rutgers’ fifth consecutive win over the Buckeyes in the all-time series.

Rutgers overcame a five-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to get their first Big Ten win of the season.

Freshman Lily Dixon finished with a career-high four goals, three coming during Rutgers’ 6-0 scoring run to end the game. With time winding down in overtime, senior Jenna Byrne found Dixon for the game-winner to seal Rutgers’ victory.

Ohio State took their largest lead of the game (12-7) when Caly O’Brien scored with 14:15 left in the fourth quarter. Rutgers didn’t stop fighting, countering with a 5-0 scoring run. Down 12-8 with 12:07 left in the fourth, Marin Hartshorn cut the Buckeyes’ lead to three. With that goal, Hartshorn becomes the fifth player in program history to hit 200 points during her career. Ava Kane and Dixon followed Hartshorn’s unassisted goal with their own goals.

[lawrence-related id=25852]

With only 2:40 left in the game, senior Cassidy Spills scored her second goal of the night, tieing the game. The Buckeyes tried to take the lead with a last-second push, but Rutgers goalie Sophia Cardello stopped the Buckeyes’ surge keeping the game tied.

Senior Meghan Hall caused a game-high five turnovers as Rutgers’ defense forced Ohio State into 17 turnovers. The Scarlet Knights’ victory locked up the No. 6 seed for this year’s Big Ten Tournament when it begins on Saturday, April 29.

[lawrence-related id=23639]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxpfjk2zh9jbvvmnbw playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxpfjk2zh9jbvvmnbw/01gxpfjk2zh9jbvvmnbw-beaf7bdbeeefac667b8681399428d69f.jpg]

RUpset! Rutgers women’s lacrosse downs top 10 Stony Brook with emphatic win

Rutgers women’s lacrosse landed a big upset on Wednesday night.

Rutgers women’s lacrosse got their most impressive win of the season, downing No. 7 Stony Brook on Wednesday night with a 12-7 win.

With the win, Rutgers is now 5-7 (0-5 Big Ten) and got a much-needed win. They went from being ranked for much of the first half of the season to now not even receiving votes in the latest rankings.

The Scarlet Knights came into the midweek match with four straight losses and a record in the Big Ten that was not necessarily indicative of their play this season.

Two of their losses in Big Ten play, against Penn State (receiving votes) and Johns Hopkins (receiving votes), came by a combined three goals. Had either one of those games, or even both gone their way, then this season would have a different feel to it.

All of which underscores the importance of Wednesday night. Rutgers was led by four goals from Cassidy Spilis.

[lawrence-related id=25818]

With the loss, Stony Brook is now 9-3.

 

Tied 4-4 after the first quarter, Rutgers limited Stony Brook to just three goals in the remainder of the game. Sophia Cardello was impressive, posting 12 saves in the win.

[lawrence-related id=25847]

The Scarlet Knights return to action on Saturday in an out-of-conference game at Vermont.

[lawrence-related id=25811]

[mm-video type=video id=01gx4by0p6dqvx7fv13r playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gx4by0p6dqvx7fv13r/01gx4by0p6dqvx7fv13r-b6d9858c9dbf3ea81d329589c0fa7039.jpg]

Kate Carolonza is taking her game to another level

In her junior season, Kate Carolonza is on pace to have a career year for Rutgers women’s lacrosse.

So far this season, Rutgers women’s lacrosse has gotten contributions offensively throughout the lineup. Six players have ten or more points, including Kate Carolonza, who is third on the team with 16. In her third season as a Scarlet Knight, the Mountain Lakes native is on pace to have a career year.

Through 10 games, Carolonza has scored 11 goals and added five assists to her resume. She has also landed 20 shots on net and come through in clutch situations with one game-winning goal. While the season is far from over, she is making more of an impact in her junior season for Rutgers.

During the 2022 campaign, Carolonza recorded 19 points in 21 games. After not appearing in a game during her freshman year, the Mountain Lakes High School product made the most of her opportunities and scored multiple goals in four games. She has carried that success into the 2023 season.

While the Scarlet Knights are off to a 4-6 start and have lost three straight games, Carolonza has been a bright spot. She has three games with multiple goals, including her only hat trick of the season against Vanderbilt on April 13th. With more playing time, she is showing the impact she can make.

[lawrence-related id=25601]

As Rutgers looks to turn their season around, Carolonza will be a player to watch. The talented junior is third on the team in goals, assists, and game-winning goals. She has been one of Rutgers most consistent players and is taking her game to another level.

[lawrence-related id=25620]

[mm-video type=video id=01gx9hbd4rxy1zhm5f61 playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gx9hbd4rxy1zhm5f61/01gx9hbd4rxy1zhm5f61-64de660e28a5527dde7c6da53511e9e4.jpg]

Sophia Cardello has been a reliable presence in net for Rutgers women’s lacrosse

Sophia Cardello is having a strong season for Rutgers women’s lacrosse.

Over the last few years, Sophia Cardello is a name that Rutgers fans have become familiar with. The Massapequa native has started 43 games for the Scarlet Knights and, in that span and posted a 23-15 record. So far this season, she has continued to receive the bulk of the playing time and built on her success.

In 10 games, Cardello has recorded a 4-6 record while making 92 saves. The talented junior has posted a .479 save percentage in that span and continued to be a durable presence with 573:46 minutes of playing time. While the Scarlet Knights have lost three straight, if the season were to end today, Cardello would finish with the highest save percentage of her career.

Although Cardello has struggled lately, she has four starts with ten or more saves. Two of those came in the last three weeks against Vanderbilt and Michigan. As the Scarlet Knights look to get back on track, they will need Cardello to rediscover her earlier season form.

Cardello started the season with 27 saves in her first three starts. The Scarlet Knights went 3-0 in that span as Cardello did not allow more than eight goals in a start. With the Massapequa High School product at her best, Rutgers was a hard team to beat.

As the season continues, the starting job is Cardello’s to lose. Caleigh Forti has seen some time in net this season but has only appeared in two games. Cardello will be looking to help Rutgers get back in the win column on Thursday when they take on the second-best team in the nation Northwestern.

[lawrence-related id=25567]

[mm-video type=video id=01gx16n1qhchjpk5mdcg playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gx16n1qhchjpk5mdcg/01gx16n1qhchjpk5mdcg-e5d28c0a3bfc629aaa794669a96fe7bd.jpg]

 

Marin Hartshorn is leading Rutgers offensive attack

Martin Hartshorn is off to an impressive start for Rutgers women’s lacrosse.

For Rutgers attacker Martin Hartshorn, expectations were high entering the 2023 season. The Scarlet Knights lacrosse star is off to a fantastic start so far.

The Allentown, PA native was coming off the best season of her collegiate career. During the 2022 campaign high, she set career highs in goals, assists, points, and shots. She has built on her success through the first few weeks of the season.

In nine games, Hartshorn has scored 19 goals and added 13 assists to her resume. She has already landed 34 shots on net and is only 16 points of 200 in her career. In Hartshorn’s fifth season as a Scarlet Knight, she is again proving to be a key piece of their success.

Additionally, she has been a points machine over the last two weeks. In that span, she 18 points, including a season-high six against Vanderbilt on the 18th. Her ability to find the back of the net and put her teammates in a position to be successful make Hartshorn a unique talent.

[lawrence-related id=25471]

As Rutgers looks to continue their hot start, Hartshorn will be relied on offensively. She showed last year that she is a threat with the ball in her stick, which has again proven to be the case. Along with Cassidy Spilis, Rutgers has a potent offense.

While the season is far from over, Hartshorn leads Rutgers in almost every statistic offensively by a large margin. As a result, she has created optimism for what the rest of the 2023 campaign will bring.

[lawrence-related id=25456]

[mm-video type=video id=01gwt16gdh53jbm50tq4 playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gwt16gdh53jbm50tq4/01gwt16gdh53jbm50tq4-def0ba3d726968f6004d914600a20a74.jpg]

Rutgers women’s lacrosse hold steady in Week 2’s USA Lacrosse rankings

Coming off a 15-8 victory over Georgetown, No. 7 Rutgers holds steady in Week 2’s Nike / USA Women’s Lacrosse power rankings.

No. 7 Rutgers holds steady in Week 2’s Nike / USA Women’s Lacrosse power rankings. Coming off a 15-8 victory over Georgetown, the Scarlet Knights will try to seek their fourth consecutive win as they take on Army this Saturday. According to ILWomen/IWLCA Division I rankings, the 3-0 No. 9 Scarlet Knights moved back one spot, switching places with 2-0 No. 8 Loyola.

Against Georgetown, Rutgers Cassidy Spilis and Marin Hartshorn combined for 11 points as the Scarlet Knights dropped 15 goals. Rutgers Meghan Ball, anchoring Rutgers’ back line, provided excellent defense for the Scarlet Knights, causing a program record six turnovers. Ball also contributed four groundballs, guiding the Scarlet Knights to an easy victory.

[lawrence-related id=22667]

Before starting Big Ten play against Penn State on March 11, the Scarlet Knights have one more non-conference game against Army. Unranked Army is riding a three-game winning streak as they prepare for a home game against the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers’ team leader in goals, Cassidy Spilis, will look to continue her dominant play. Spilis has 12 goals this season, five more than any Army player. Going up against goalie Lacey Bartholomay with a 66% save percentage, Rutgers will be challenged against Army as the Scarlet Knights seek their fourth consecutive win this season.

[lawrence-related id=23639]