No. 3 Rutgers field hockey to challenge for Big Ten Tournament title this week
The Rutgers field hockey team will have a chance to win a Big Ten Tournament title this week. The Scarlet Knights (15-2, 6-2) are set to take on the host team, Michigan, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
No. 3 Rutgers received the No. 2 seed in the tournament courtesy of its strong record.
The Knights will take on the No. 7-seeded Wolverines (9-7, 3-5). The two teams have met once before this season in early October, with Rutgers taking the 2-1 victory in overtime.
The game on Wednesday is bound to be a good matchup as No. 16 Michigan seeks revenge for its 1-goal defeat earlier this month.
Kate McLaughlin leads the Wolverines in their offensive attack. She has 6 goals on the season and four assists, leading Michigan with 16 points.
Caylie McMahon has been the Wolverines' go-to goalkeeper, having started all 16 games this year. She posts a 76.6 save percentage and a 1.15 goals-against average.
Michigan has outscored its opponents 38-18 in the regular season. On the other side, the Knights have outscored their foes 43-24.
Rutgers is coming into the tournament having dropped back-to-back games, which were its only two losses in the regular season. The Knights' losses came against two ranked opponents in a shootout defeat to Northwestern and a 7-2 defeat against Iowa.
If Rutgers beats the Wolverines, it will face the winner of the Hawkeyes (13-4, 4-4) versus Maryland matchup.
When the Knights faced the Terrapins (14-4, 6-2) earlier this season, Rutgers prevailed with a 3-2 shootout victory.
The Knights will be marching into battle led by junior midfielder Guillermina Causarano, who leads the team with 12 goals, seven assists and 31 points.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Sophia Howard will likely be in the net for Rutgers. Howard has been a solid presence for the Knights all season long, making timely saves and posting five shutouts. She sports a 1.22 goals-against average and has been a big part of the team's success this season.
Rutgers has a big week ahead and will be looking to move through the Big Ten Tournament and hoist a trophy at the end of the week.
The tournament will be broadcast all week long on the Big Ten Network as Rutgers faces off in a 2 p.m. Wednesday clash with Michigan.
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