Rutgers Women's Lacrosse Faces Ranked Showdown at Princeton

The red-hot Scarlet Knights look to extend their three-game win streak against the No. 14 Tigers

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's lacrosse team has gotten off to a 3-1 start, including three consecutive victories over Villanova, Delaware, and Monmouth. Led by sophomore standout Caroline Ling and a balanced attack, Rutgers now faces its toughest test of the young season with a road matchup against the No. 14 Princeton Tigers.

Why it matters

Rutgers has been a consistent contender in women's lacrosse, with head coach Melissa Lehman leading the program to three wins in its first four games for the seventh straight season. This game against Princeton represents a chance for the Scarlet Knights to prove themselves against a ranked opponent and continue their strong start to the 2026 campaign.

The details

In their most recent victory, the Scarlet Knights defeated Villanova 15-12 in a hard-fought battle. Sophomore Caroline Ling led the way with a career-high five goals, while senior Lily Dixon is closing in on the program's all-time assists record. Defensively, Rutgers forced 20 Villanova turnovers and won the ground ball battle. Now they'll look to carry that momentum into a matchup with a Princeton team that is coming off a season-opening loss to Loyola.

  • Rutgers defeated Villanova 15-12 on February 21, 2026.
  • Rutgers will face Princeton on February 26, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Melissa Lehman

The head coach of the Rutgers women's lacrosse team, who has led the program to three wins in its first four games for the seventh consecutive season.

Caroline Ling

A sophomore standout for Rutgers, currently ranking third in the Big Ten and 18th nationally with 15 goals, including a career-high five against Villanova.

Lily Dixon

A senior for Rutgers who is just five assists away from breaking the program's all-time record of 92, currently held by Marin Hartshorn from 2019 to 2023.

Katie Buck

A senior for Rutgers who ranks second in the Big Ten with 7.50 draw controls per game, including a career-high 12 against Villanova.

Meg Morrisroe

A player for the Princeton Tigers women's lacrosse team, who scored a team-high five goals in their season-opening loss to Loyola.

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What’s next

Following the matchup against Princeton, Rutgers will return home to host Hofstra on February 28th.

The takeaway

Rutgers' strong start to the season has set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with a ranked Princeton team. This game will be a true test for the Scarlet Knights as they look to prove themselves against a top-tier opponent and continue their pursuit of a successful 2026 campaign.