Rutgers Women’s Lacrosse is heading back to the big dance, and Head Coach Melissa Lehman couldn’t be more fired up. In a pre-NCAA tournament press conference, Lehman shared her excitement as the Scarlet Knights prepare for their fourth-ever national tournament appearance—and their third in just six years. For this squad, it’s a milestone moment: the first trip to the tournament since 2022, meaning every player on the roster is experiencing the postseason thrill for the very first time.
“We are so excited,” Lehman said. “This is actually the first time since 2022, so for all the girls on this team, this is their first opportunity going to the tournament. It means a lot for this group. They’ve been working really, really hard the last couple of years. This year, it was just extra motivation. I couldn’t be more proud of this group, especially these seniors who are truly the leaders of this program.”
The Knights’ path to glory starts with a familiar foe: Princeton. This will be the second matchup between the two teams this season, after the Tigers edged Rutgers 15-9 back in February. Lehman has been burning the midnight oil reviewing game film, and she’s zeroed in on a few key areas for improvement. “We need to be in control of the game,” she emphasized. “That means winning draw controls, securing possessions, and running our offense with precision to create the opportunities we’re looking for.” Above all, she stressed the importance of competing across all four quarters—pointing to a rough second quarter in the earlier loss that put the Knights in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
Lehman also took a moment to celebrate the five Rutgers players recently named to the All-Big Ten team, highlighting their critical role in securing the tournament bid. “That was a great honor for our team and our program,” she said. “Caroline Ling and Katie Buck, who were selected to the first and second teams, absolutely deserved it. They put up the points and were a force on the attack. Caroline Ling tied our program record for a single season with 90 points—I’m so proud of her. And Katie Buck has done so much for us on the field. She leads our team with 157 draw controls and is a defensive powerhouse.”
As the Scarlet Knights gear up for their NCAA tournament opener, the energy is electric. With a hungry roster, veteran leadership, and a coach who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, Rutgers is ready to make some noise. Whether you’re cheering from the stands or gearing up in your favorite Scarlet Knights gear, this is a team you won’t want to miss.