The energy was electric at Rutgers' Rodkin Center on Wednesday afternoon as the women's lacrosse team received a hero's send-off ahead of their NCAA Tournament return. With pom-poms waving and cheers echoing through the hallways, the Scarlet Knights boarded their bus bound for Maryland, ready to take on in-state rival Princeton in the first round on Friday.
This moment marks a triumphant comeback for a program that's been building something special. Under head coach Melissa Lehman, the Scarlet Knights are dancing into the postseason for the third time, following their 2021 and 2022 NCAA Tournament appearances. But for this senior class, it's been a long-awaited breakthrough after coming up just short in previous years.
"Watching your name on the screen, it was so much fun, almost indescribable," said senior captain Katie Buck, a local star from Moorestown High School. "I'm just really proud of the people around me because we've really seen what it took to get to where we were, and it was anything but easy."
The numbers tell the story of a resilient squad. Sporting a 10-8 record with a 4-4 mark in conference play, the Scarlet Knights navigated one of the toughest schedules in the country. Even a late-season stumble—three straight losses—couldn't derail their momentum. They earned enough quality wins to secure an at-large bid, proving their mettle when it mattered most.
"We've had some good wins the past couple years, but it hasn't ultimately gone our way," senior Lily Dixon reflected. "All of our hard work, especially for my senior class, we went through so much adversity."
The send-off was a campus-wide affair. Men's lacrosse players lined the hallways, while head coaches Steve Pikiell (men's basketball), Brian Brecht (men's lacrosse), and Mike O'Neill (women's soccer) joined dozens of athletics staff in the lobby. It was a testament to the respect this team has earned—and a reminder that Rutgers lacrosse is ready to make noise on the national stage.
As the Scarlet Knights prepare to face Princeton, their confidence is palpable. "We can play with anyone in the country," the team has echoed, and with this senior class leading the charge, they're not just hoping for a run—they're expecting one. Get ready, because Rutgers women's lacrosse is back, and they're playing with something to prove.