Three Tabbed 2026 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Players to Watch
Feb 04 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Three from Rutgers women's lacrosse – Lily Dixon, Hilary Elsner and Charlee Thomas – were named 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch, announced Wednesday by the conference.
The Scarlet Knights were also picked to finish seventh out of nine teams in the Big Ten, as voted on by the league's coaches.
2026 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Northwestern (Unanimous)
2. Maryland
3. Johns Hopkins
4. Michigan
5. Penn State
6. USC
7. RUTGERS
8. Ohio State
9. Oregon
One of the top scorers in the Big Ten, Dixon enters her senior season with 111 points on 72 assists and 39 goals in 50 career games for the Scarlet Knights. Dixon became the 28th player in program history to hit 100 points for her career, finishing last season with a team-high 50 points on 33 assists and 17 goals to go along with 31 draw controls, 28 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers.
Elsner appeared in 15 games last year as a true freshman, finishing the 2025 season with 17 points on 15 goals and two assists. Elsner produced three multi-goal outings last spring, including a career-high four goals in a 19-7 victory over Temple. Elsner scored at least one goal in 10 outings as a rookie.
Thomas started all 18 games on defense as a true freshman, closing the 2025 season with 16 ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers. Thomas scooped up multiple ground balls four times last spring, including a career-high three against Northwestern.
Rutgers wrapped up last season with eight victories, including ranked wins over No. 16 Stony Brook and No. 21 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights advanced to the Big Ten Tournament for the fifth consecutive season under head coach Melissa Lehman and faced 11 opponents who appeared in the IWLCA Coaches Poll throughout last season.
2026 BIG TEN WOMEN'S LACROSSE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ava Angello, Sr., A, Johns Hopkins
Lacey Downey, Jr., M, Johns Hopkins
Reagan O'Brien, Sr., D, John Hopkins
Kori Edmondson, Sr., M, Maryland
Kayla Gilmore, So., M, Maryland
JJ Suriano, Jr., GK, Maryland
Grace Callahan, Sr., D, Michigan
Ava Class, Gr., M, Michigan
Calli Norris, Sr., A, Michigan
Mary Carroll, So., D, Northwestern
Madison Epke, Sr., A, Northwestern
Madison Taylor, Sr., A, Northwestern
Camryn Callaghan, Sr., A, Ohio State
Jocelyn Torres, Sr., GK, Ohio State
Kate Tyack, Jr., A, Ohio State
Lexi Jenkins, Jr., M, Oregon
Gabby Santucci, Jr., A, Oregon
Anna Simmons, Sr., M, Oregon
Rocquette Allen, Fr., A, Penn State
Erika Ho, Sr., A, Penn State
Sydney Manning, Jr., GK, Penn State
LILY DIXON, SR., A, RUTGERS
HILARY ELSNER, SO., A, RUTGERS
CHARLEE THOMAS, SO., D, RUTGERS
Hannah Barron, RS-Jr., M, USC
Emma Bunting, Jr., A, USC
Reese Robinson, Jr., A, USC
The Scarlet Knights were also picked to finish seventh out of nine teams in the Big Ten, as voted on by the league's coaches.
2026 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Northwestern (Unanimous)
2. Maryland
3. Johns Hopkins
4. Michigan
5. Penn State
6. USC
7. RUTGERS
8. Ohio State
9. Oregon
One of the top scorers in the Big Ten, Dixon enters her senior season with 111 points on 72 assists and 39 goals in 50 career games for the Scarlet Knights. Dixon became the 28th player in program history to hit 100 points for her career, finishing last season with a team-high 50 points on 33 assists and 17 goals to go along with 31 draw controls, 28 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers.
Elsner appeared in 15 games last year as a true freshman, finishing the 2025 season with 17 points on 15 goals and two assists. Elsner produced three multi-goal outings last spring, including a career-high four goals in a 19-7 victory over Temple. Elsner scored at least one goal in 10 outings as a rookie.
Thomas started all 18 games on defense as a true freshman, closing the 2025 season with 16 ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers. Thomas scooped up multiple ground balls four times last spring, including a career-high three against Northwestern.
Rutgers wrapped up last season with eight victories, including ranked wins over No. 16 Stony Brook and No. 21 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights advanced to the Big Ten Tournament for the fifth consecutive season under head coach Melissa Lehman and faced 11 opponents who appeared in the IWLCA Coaches Poll throughout last season.
2026 BIG TEN WOMEN'S LACROSSE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ava Angello, Sr., A, Johns Hopkins
Lacey Downey, Jr., M, Johns Hopkins
Reagan O'Brien, Sr., D, John Hopkins
Kori Edmondson, Sr., M, Maryland
Kayla Gilmore, So., M, Maryland
JJ Suriano, Jr., GK, Maryland
Grace Callahan, Sr., D, Michigan
Ava Class, Gr., M, Michigan
Calli Norris, Sr., A, Michigan
Mary Carroll, So., D, Northwestern
Madison Epke, Sr., A, Northwestern
Madison Taylor, Sr., A, Northwestern
Camryn Callaghan, Sr., A, Ohio State
Jocelyn Torres, Sr., GK, Ohio State
Kate Tyack, Jr., A, Ohio State
Lexi Jenkins, Jr., M, Oregon
Gabby Santucci, Jr., A, Oregon
Anna Simmons, Sr., M, Oregon
Rocquette Allen, Fr., A, Penn State
Erika Ho, Sr., A, Penn State
Sydney Manning, Jr., GK, Penn State
LILY DIXON, SR., A, RUTGERS
HILARY ELSNER, SO., A, RUTGERS
CHARLEE THOMAS, SO., D, RUTGERS
Hannah Barron, RS-Jr., M, USC
Emma Bunting, Jr., A, USC
Reese Robinson, Jr., A, USC
Players Mentioned
A/M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
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