Women’s Lacrosse Earns 15-12 Win at Villanova

Saturday, February 21

Villanova, Pa.

12 PM

Rutgers University

3-1

Villanova

2-2

Rutgers

Villanova

Women’s Lacrosse Earns 15-12 Win at Villanova

Feb 21 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Rutgers women's lacrosse (3-1) picked up its third consecutive win, defeating Villanova (2-2), 15-12, on Saturday at Villanova Stadium.

With two minutes remaining and the Scarlet Knights up just two, senior Katie Buck secured her game-high 10th draw control to help RU run out the clock before classmate Lily Dixon scored an open-net goal in the closing seconds to secure the non-conference victory.

Sophomore Caorline Ling produced a career-high seven points on five goals and two assists. Classmate Hilary Elsner, who grew up minutes away from the Villanova campus in Newtown, matched a career high with four goals, while rookie Kate Theofield added her second hat trick in three outings.

Dixon contributed four points on two goals and two assists, moving to 88 career helpers. The Grasonville, Maryland, native is just five assists away from passing Marin Hartshorn (2019-23) for the program assist record.

RU forced Villanova into 20 turnovers, with Dixon and sophomore Bianca Chiarella leading the way with two turnovers caused apiece. Buck helped Rutgers to a 17-12 advantage on 50-50 opportunities thanks to a game-high 10 draw controls to go along with a game-high four ground balls. Sophomore Charlee Thomas and freshman Annalise Messina also added multiple draw controls.

It was all Rutgers in the opening 15 minutes, as the Scarlet Knights outscored the Wildcats, 5-1, in the first quarter. Junior Gianna Macrino found Ling six minutes in, as Ling finished for her first of the day. Elsner followed with back-to-back goals, including a score off a pass from Ling to give Rutgers a 3-0 lead with 4:48 left.

Villanova added its first goal one minute later before RU closed out the quarter with back-to-back goals from Theofield. Her second off a pass from redshirt sophomore Samantha Swanovich made it a 5-1 lead. RU's defense was also stifling in the first quarter, forcing the home team into nine turnovers before the first break.

Elsner continued the offensive momentum in the second, taking a pass from Theofield and securing her hat trick. Dixon netted her first of the afternoon a minute later, putting Rutgers up 7-1 at the 12:44 mark in the second.

The Wildcats responded with three unanswered goals to get to within three before the Scarlet Knights countered with three own 3-0 scoring run to close the half. The response included Elsner's fourth of the afternoon, taking a pass from Messina with 7:55 left in the half.

After a goal from Ling, junior Payton Tini put an exclamation point on RU's second-half performance. Tini took ground ball off a caused turnover from Dixon in Villanova territory and finishing for the team's 10th goal of the day.

Rutgers entered the locker room with a commanding 10-4 lead. The Scarlet Knights outshot the Wildcats, 19-8, forced the home team into 12 first-half turnovers and held an 8-7 advantage on the draw.

Villanova found some momentum after the midpoint, scoring three consecutive goals before Dixon found Ling to stop the run. Ling's third of the day made it 11-7 with 9;13 left in the third quarter.

Both teams continued to trade goals down the stretch in the third, as Theofield's third goal gave RU a 12-9 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats made it interesting in the final 15 minutes of play. After Ling made it 14-9 with 8:50 remaining on her fifth goal, Villanova scored three straight to bring the game within two. However, Buck's final draw control in the closing minutes would secure the win.

Up Next
Rutgers faces it second ranked foe of the 2026 season when it competes at No. 9 Princeton on Feb. 25 at Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium. First draw is set for 7 p.m., with the game streamed on ESPN+.