Rutgers Women’s Lacrosse Set to Open 2026 Season Against No. 21 Army Indoors
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2026 season is here, and Rutgers women’s lacrosse is diving in headfirst with a tough test right out of the gate. The Scarlet Knights will host No.
21 Army on Friday evening in what marks another early-season clash with a ranked opponent. Due to frigid weather in the forecast, the game has been moved indoors to the Busch Practice Bubble and will be closed to the public.
Fans can still catch the action via a complimentary live stream on the Rutgers Athletics Facebook page, with the first draw set for 5 p.m.
This isn’t Rutgers’ first rodeo when it comes to opening the season against a ranked foe. In fact, it’s the third time in six years they’ve done so - a sign of how much the program has embraced early-season challenges under head coach Melissa Lehman. And if last year is any indication, they’re more than capable of rising to the moment.
Building on Momentum
Rutgers is coming off a solid 2025 campaign that saw them notch eight wins, including signature victories over then-No. 16 Stony Brook and No.
21 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights also made their fifth straight appearance in the Big Ten Tournament - a testament to the consistency Lehman has built in Piscataway.
Along the way, they faced 11 opponents ranked in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, gaining valuable experience that should pay dividends in 2026.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism heading into this season? Continuity. Rutgers returns seven of its top nine scorers from last year’s squad, bringing back a core that knows how to find the back of the net and has already proven itself against top-tier competition.
Leading that group is senior attacker Lily Dixon, who’s not just a returning star - she’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the Big Ten. Dixon led Rutgers with 50 points last season, dishing out 33 assists and adding 17 goals. Her vision and creativity make her the engine of this offense, and she enters the year as a 2026 Big Ten Player to Watch.
She’s not alone. Delainey Sutley (23 goals), Payton Tini (22 goals), Ava Chiarella (16 goals), Samantha Swanovich (16 goals), Caroline Ling (15 goals), and Hilary Elsner (15 goals) all return after posting double-digit goal totals last spring. That kind of depth gives Rutgers the flexibility to attack defenses in multiple ways - and the experience to do it with confidence.
A Gauntlet of a Schedule
Rutgers isn’t easing into the season. The Scarlet Knights are set to face eight teams ranked in the IWLCA Preseason Coaches Poll, including national powerhouses like No.
2 Northwestern, No. 6 Princeton, No.
7 Maryland, and No. 8 Johns Hopkins.
That’s a brutal stretch, but it also presents a major opportunity.
Since 2021, Rutgers has racked up 18 wins over ranked teams - including four against top-10 opponents. This group has shown it can hang with the best, and with so many key contributors returning, there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again.
Friday’s matchup with Army is more than just a season opener - it’s a chance to settle the score. The all-time series between the two programs is tied at 2-2, and last year’s meeting ended in a nail-biting 10-9 loss for Rutgers in West Point.
In that game, Dixon tallied three points (two assists and a goal), Chiarella scored twice, and defender Maggie Buck hauled in a then career-high 11 draw controls. Expect another tightly contested battle this time around.
Big Ten Players to Watch
The Big Ten spotlight is shining on three Scarlet Knights this season: Lily Dixon, Hilary Elsner, and Charlee Thomas - all named 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch.
Dixon’s resume speaks for itself. She enters her senior season with 111 career points (72 assists, 39 goals) in 50 games.
Her assist total ranks fifth in program history, and she’s just four away from passing Meghan Flanagan for fourth. With 21 more helpers, she’ll surpass Marin Hartshorn as Rutgers’ all-time assist leader.
She’s also climbing the all-time points list and needs just 15 to move into the top 20.
Elsner made a strong impression as a freshman, posting 17 points (15 goals, two assists) in 15 games. She gives Rutgers another reliable scoring option in the midfield.
On the defensive end, Thomas started every game as a true freshman last season, finishing with 16 ground balls, four draw controls, and three caused turnovers. Her presence gives Rutgers a steady hand on the back line.
Milestones on the Horizon
Several Scarlet Knights are approaching career milestones this season:
- Lily Dixon needs just four assists to move into fourth place all-time at Rutgers and is within striking distance of the program record.
- She’s also tied for 21st all-time in points and needs 15 to pass Kristina Dunphey on the list.
- Payton Tini is just 45 points away from becoming the 28th player in program history to reach the 100-point mark.
With a veteran core, a battle-tested schedule, and individual stars chasing history, Rutgers enters 2026 with high expectations - and the tools to meet them.
After Friday’s opener against Army, the Scarlet Knights will hit the road to face Delaware on February 13 in Newark. That game will stream on ESPN+, with first draw scheduled for 5 p.m.
The road ahead won’t be easy. But this Rutgers team has the experience, the firepower, and the grit to make some serious noise this spring.