Rutgers Women’s Lacrosse Unveils 2026 Schedule Featuring National Powerhouses and Big Ten Gauntlet
The road to May starts in early February for Rutgers women’s lacrosse, as the Scarlet Knights have officially unveiled their 2026 regular season schedule - and it’s no cakewalk. With 17 games on the docket, including seven home matchups and a brutal Big Ten slate, Rutgers is gearing up for a season that will test its depth, resilience, and postseason aspirations from start to finish.
Head coach Melissa Lehman’s squad will open the season under the lights at SHI Stadium on Friday, February 6, welcoming Army in what promises to be a high-energy curtain-raiser. That matchup is one of seven against teams that finished in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll last season, a clear sign that Rutgers isn’t shying away from top-tier competition.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a solid campaign that saw them notch eight wins, including ranked victories over Stony Brook and Ohio State. They also punched their ticket to the Big Ten Tournament for the fifth straight year - a testament to the program’s consistency under Lehman. But the 2026 schedule suggests this team is looking to take the next step, not just maintain the status quo.
A Schedule Built for Battle
Here’s what stands out: Rutgers will face eight Big Ten opponents and seven teams that made last year’s NCAA Tournament. That includes a trip to defending national runner-up Northwestern, a showdown with perennial power Maryland, and home games against Michigan and Johns Hopkins - all of whom finished in the top 15 nationally.
The non-conference slate is no slouch either. After the opener against Army, Rutgers hits the road for a Friday night clash at Delaware, followed by a midweek home game against Monmouth.
The Knights then travel to Villanova and Princeton - the latter finished last year ranked No. 7 - before returning home to host Hofstra. A road swing through Temple and Stony Brook (No. 15 last season) rounds out a grueling early stretch.
West Coast Swing Adds Unique Challenge
One of the more intriguing aspects of the schedule comes in late March, when Rutgers heads west for a two-game California road trip. First up is a Big Ten matchup against USC in Los Angeles, followed by a non-conference battle with San Diego State just two days later. That kind of travel can be taxing, but it also offers a midseason bonding opportunity and a chance to sharpen focus before the final push toward postseason play.
Big Ten Grind Begins in March
Conference play kicks off on March 15 with a home tilt against Johns Hopkins, a team that finished No. 11 in the country last season. From there, it’s a sprint through the Big Ten gauntlet: road games at Ohio State, Maryland, and Northwestern, plus home matchups with Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State. Every game in this league is a battle, and Rutgers will need to be sharp, especially during the back half of the season when postseason positioning is on the line.
Full 2026 Rutgers Women’s Lacrosse Schedule
- Feb. 6 - vs. Army (SHI Stadium)
- Feb. 13 - at Delaware (Newark, Del.)
- Feb. 18 - vs.
Monmouth (SHI Stadium)
- Feb. 21 - at Villanova (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Feb. 25 - at Princeton (Princeton, N.J.)
- Feb. 28 - vs.
Hofstra (SHI Stadium)
- Mar. 7 - at Temple (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Mar. 11 - at Stony Brook (Stony Brook, N.Y.)
- Mar. 15 - vs.
Johns Hopkins* (SHI Stadium)
- Mar. 19 - at Ohio State* (Columbus, Ohio)
- Mar. 28 - at USC* (Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Mar. 30 - at San Diego State (San Diego, Calif.)
- Apr. 4 - at Maryland* (College Park, Md.)
- Apr. 9 - vs.
Michigan* (SHI Stadium)
- Apr. 12 - vs.
Oregon* (SHI Stadium)
- Apr. 15 - at Northwestern* (Evanston, Ill.)
- Apr. 18 - vs. Penn State* (SHI Stadium)
(* Big Ten Conference game)
What’s at Stake
With a schedule this loaded, Rutgers will have plenty of chances to build a strong postseason résumé. The mix of ranked opponents, road challenges, and a deep conference slate means every win will carry weight. But it also means there’s little room for error - and that’s exactly the kind of pressure this team seems ready to embrace.
The pieces are in place: a battle-tested coaching staff, a program with postseason experience, and a schedule designed to forge a team that can make noise in the Big Ten and beyond. The countdown to February 6 is officially on.