No. 23 Women's Lacrosse Faces Michigan Friday in Ann Arbor

Friday, March 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6 PM

Rutgers University

Michigan

No. 23 Women's Lacrosse Faces Michigan Friday in Ann Arbor

Mar 23 | Women's Lacrosse

Live Stats Big Ten Plus Game Notes

PISCATAWAY – No. 23 Rutgers women's lacrosse (4-4, 0-2) hits the road to face No. 15 Michigan (7-4, 1-1) on Friday night in Ann Arbor. First draw is set for 6 p.m. ET with the game streamed on Big Ten Plus.

Last Time Out

The Scarlet Knights dropped a 16-8 matchup with No. 11 Maryland last Saturday at SHI Stadium in their last time out. Graduate student Marin Hartshorn produced a team-high six points on five goals and an assist in the loss.

What to Know

Hartshorn has been one of the top offensive threats in the Big Ten over the past several weeks, tallying four or more points in each of her past four games.
Senior defender Meghan Ball leads the country with 4.0 caused turnovers per game. The two-time IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week also leads the Big Ten ground balls per game (3.62) and is second in draw controls per game (6.88).
Ball caused a game-high five turnovers last Saturday against the Terrapins - the 21st time in her career she has caused three or more turnovers in a game.
With her 168 career goals, senior midfielder Cassidy Spilis needs just six to pass Heather Jones (1991-94) for the second-most goals in program history. Spilis leads the team with 23 goals this season and is fourth in the Big Ten with 2.88 goals scored per game.
Spilis needs just two ground balls for 100 for her career. and seven draw controls for 200 for her career. Senior Jenna Byrne needs four points for 100 for her career. Classmate Jessica Beneducci needs six ground balls for 100.
No. 15 Michigan represents one of 10 teams on this year's schedule either ranked or receiving votes in the latest IWLCA Coaches Poll. The list includes No. 2 Northwestern, No. 5 James Madison, No. 6 Stony Brook, No. 10 Maryland, No. 13 Army, No. 15 Michigan, No. 17 Princeton, No. 20 Penn State, No. 21 Jacksonville and RV Johns Hopkins.
The win over then-No. 19 Jacksonville to open the 2023 season marked the 13th victory over a ranked opponent over the past three seasons under head coach Melissa Lehman.
RU dropped one spot to No. 23 in this week's ILWomen/IWLCA poll and received votes in the latest USA Lacrosse Magazine Poll.

Records, Milestones to Watch

Cassidy Spilis is two ground balls away from 100 for her career (98).
Cassidy Spilis is seven goals away from passing Heather Jones for No. 2 on the all-time list.
Cassidy Spilis is seven draw controls away from 200 for her career (193).
Jenna Byrne is four points away from 100 for her career (96).
Jessica Beneducci is six GBs for 100 for her career (94 total).

Statistical Leaders

Meghan Ball
- CTs-Per-Game: 4.0 (First B1G, First NCAA)
- DCs-Per-Game: 6.88 (Second B1G, 13th NCAA)
- GBs-Per-Game: 3.62 (First B1G, 6th NCAA)
Cassidy Spilis
- Goals: 23 (Sixth B1G)
- Goals-Per-Game: 2.88 (Fourth B1G, 47th NCAA)
Marin Hartshorn
- Assists: 12 (Fifth B1G)
- Assists-Per-Game: 1.50 (Fourth B1G)
- Points: 30 (Ninth B1G)
Jenna Byrne
- Assists: 11 (Sixth B1G)
- Assists-Per-Game: 1.38 (Fifth B1G)
Sophia Cardello
- Save Percentage: .490 (Second B1G, 13th NCAA)
- GAA: 9.78 (Third B1G, 17th NCAA)
- Saves: 71 (Fifth B1G, 34th NCAA)
- Saves-Per-Game: 8.88 (First B1G, 32nd NCAA)

Scouting Michigan and Series History

The Wolverines enter Friday's game with a 7-4 record and a 1-1 mark in Big Ten Conference action. Michigan defeated Eastern Michigan, 16-3, in its last time out on Sunday and have won six of its last eight games.
Kalay Thompson dished out a career-high five assists against the Eagles. Jill Smith leads the team with 43 points on 38 goals and five helpers.
Rutgers leads the all-time series with Michigan, 5-3. The Scarlet Knights won last year's matchup, 13-8, on March 31, 2022 at SHI Stadium.

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