2015 WLAX Season Review
Jun 02 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Rutgers women's lacrosse team completed its inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference in 2015. The Scarlet Knights had several notable accomplishments in their first Big Ten campaign, including their first league win, an Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Region player, and hosting the inaugural Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament at High Point Solutions Stadium.
"Joining the Big Ten Conference as one of the founding members of women's lacrosse was an amazing experience," said head coach Laura Brand-Sias. "To earn our first Big Ten win and host the inaugural Big Ten women's lacrosse tournament were huge steps for our program, and we look forward to building on that momentum entering next season. We have 24 players returning from a young 2015 roster and seven standouts joining the squad this fall. I know everyone is hungry to improve and compete among the conference's elite."
Hosting The B1G Show
Rutgers hosted the inaugural Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament at High Point Solutions Stadium from April 30 -- May 3, marking the first Big Ten Tournament hosted by Rutgers University as a member of its new conference.
First B1G Win
A hat trick performance from sophomore attacker Amanda Turturro (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and seven saves from senior goalkeeper Candice Dandridge (Cherry Hill, N.J.) guided RU to a 7-6 victory at Michigan on April 26 in the season finale. The win secured the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament for the Scarlet Knights.
National Exposure
Rutgers women's lacrosse reached a national audience for the first time in program history in 2015. RU appeared in three nationally televised contests on BTN, including games against eventual Big Ten Tournament champion and No. 15/16 Penn State on March 28, Lehigh on March 31 and at No. 20/16 Ohio State on April 16.
In addition to being featured on live television, the Scarlet Knights had six contests streamed on BTN's online platform BTN2Go, generating unprecedented exposure for the program. RVision streamed RU's game against Hofstra live online on March 18 at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Stiff Competition
According to the NCAA's Toughest Schedule report to end the season, Rutgers women's lacrosse boasted the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation and toughest slate in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights' opposition in 2015 had a 201-100 record (.668 winning percentage). No. 1 Maryland, which finished the year as national champs, had the fifth-toughest schedule with an opposition record of 216-110 (663).
Overall, nine Rutgers games featured IWLCA ranked opponents during the 2015 season, as the Scarlet Knights took on eight ranked foes. The Scarlet Knights played Ohio State two times -- one during the regular season on April 16 and in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals on April 30.
Sbrilli Shines
Rutgers women's lacrosse redshirt senior midfielder Lauren Sbrilli (Martinsville, N.J.) concluded her final season "On the Banks" with IWLCA Mid-Atlantic Second Team honors, All-Big Ten honors, and an All-Big Ten Tournament Team selection.
Sbrilli ended the season as the Rutgers leader in goals (36), points (42), shots (95) and shots on goal (72), all of which were career-highs. In all-time program history, Sbrilli closed her career 14th on the points list with 129 "On the Banks," including 112 goals and 17 assists.
Through 13 seasons as head coach, Brand-Sias has now mentored 34 all-region selections, as well as one All-Big Ten honoree and 33 All-BIG EAST honorees.
Youth Movement
Seven underclassmen saw action in at least 13 games in 2015, with a number of freshmen and sophomores emerging as starters at all three phases.
Amanda Casten (Brick, N.J.) and Kerrie Puckhaber (Wantgh, N.Y.) led all freshmen in games played and started. Casten started a rookie-high 14 contests as a defender and midfielder, totaling 15 ground balls, five draw controls and six caused turnovers. An attacker, Puckhaber had the most contributions offensively among freshmen, tallying eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 18 games played and nine starts.
Sophomores Kristina Dunphey (Hillsborough, N.J.), Macy Scott (Toms River, N.J.), and Turturro made significant contributions during breakout seasons. Dunphey finished fourth in points (21) with 14 goals and seven assists, tallying the third-most shots. Turturro was sixth in point production with 13 goals and five assists for 18 overall. Scott started eight games and played in 17 at midfield, securing seven ground balls and 11 draw controls to go with four goals and two assists.
Two junior attackers -- Kim Kolodny (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Halley Barnes (Garnet Valley, Pa.) -- are the leading returning scorers entering next season. Kolodny finished second on the team in 2015 with 26 goals and 6 assists for 32 points. Barnes recorded 20 goals and nine assists for 29 points while starting all 18 games.
Sixty-six percent of RU's scoring from 2015 returns next season.
Saves Leader
Dandridge, in her first season as the starter in cage, led the Big Ten with 8.06 saves per game. Dandridge helped RU to a season-opening, 10-7 win against Villanova on Feb. 14 at home, where she made 10 saves.
For her efforts, Dandridge earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors -- the first weekly honor for Rutgers as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
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