Rutgers Women's Lacrosse Hosts Seventh-Ranked Notre Dame
Apr 19 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, NJ - The Rutgers University women’s lacrosse team will play game two of a three-game home stand on Sunday, April 23, when it hosts the seventh-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ronald N. Yurcak Field at 12:00 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights (6-6, 1-3 BIG EAST) defeated the Connecticut Huskies on April 8 for their first BIG EAST victory, but wound up on the short end of an 18-8 score on Saturday against the 13th-ranked Syracuse Orange. Syracuse’s potent offense proved to be too much for a young Scarlet Knight team to handle.
Thus far, RU has relied heavily on returning veterans and productive newcomers. Junior midfielder Katie Batiuk (Jackson, NJ) is in the midst of her third consecutive standout season – leading the Scarlet Knights in points (46), goals (30), assists (16), draw-controls (27), caused-turnovers (18). She is also first on the team with four game-winning goals and second only to junior tri-captain Jamie Farewell (Medford Lakes, NJ) in groundballs with 22.
Freshmen attacker Nina Frankoski (Maplewood, NJ) and midfielder Katy Lawrence (Pylesville, MD) have proved to be vital members of Rutgers’ attack. Frankoski, who was named to the BIG EAST’s weekly Honor Roll for the first time last week after scoring three goals against Syracuse, is third on the Scarlet Knight roster with 18 goals and her two game-winning goals are second only to Batiuk. Lawrence has been equally impressive, tallying 17 goals, 10 assists, 21 draw-controls and 11 groundballs in 11 games this season.
The Fighting Irish (10-3, 2-1 BIG EAST) enter this weekend’s affair with an impressive record and one of the nation’s top players. Senior Crysti Foote scored two goals and dished out three assists in Notre Dame’s recent 11-10 overtime loss to the third-ranked Georgetown on Saturday, April 15. Foote is Notre Dame’s all-time leader in points with 198 and her 51 goals and 75 points this year are both single-season records in South Bend.
In six previous match-ups, the Scarlet Knights hold a record of 2-4 against the Irish, including a 1-4 mark since the two teams began BIG EAST play in 2001. The Scarlet Knights’ last win against the Irish came in head coach Laura Brand’s second season on “the Banks.” That year, RU hosted the Irish and came away with the 7-6 victory.
After their tilt against Notre Dame, the Scarlet Knights will conclude their three-game home stand on Wednesday, April 26, when they host the Great Danes of Albany at 3:00 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
