No. 10 Rutgers has huge weekend on tap

When this shortened field hockey season began, Rutgers coach Meredith Civico knew it was going to be a challenge that her team would have to approach one step at a time.

So far, the No. 10 Scarlet Knights (7-3) have answered the challenge and this weekend they are looking to take a giant step as No. 4 Northwestern (8-2) comes to Piscataway for a pair of games Friday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon).

“It’s going to be challenging and in the Big Ten you have to grind through it,” said Civico. “I think that is good. It’ll be a good challenge.”

Rutgers has won five of the last seven, and four of those wins have been by a shutout as the defense has excelled. With the Big Ten Tournament just two weeks away, the Scarlet Knights could be peaking at the right time.

Gianna Glatz, the senior goalie from Shawnee, is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after notching a pair of shutouts in wins over then No. 9 Penn State. Glatz has five shutouts this season and a 0.60 goals against. The Rutgers defense has allowed only four goals this season and that is tied for the best in the Big Ten.

Backs Kerrie Burns and Abby Regn have started all 10 games and been staunch defenders.

“We have to take it one game at a time and continue to grow from game to game,” said Civico, who has the program headed in the right direction. “We have to build on every game and I know it can happen.”

One area where it has been happening is inside the circle. The Scarlet Knights have seven wins and seven different players have been credited with a game-winning goal.

Milena Redslingshoefer, who hails from Munich, Germany, is tied with Kassidy Shelter with three goals. Redslingshoefer is tied with Katie Larmour and Gracey Butsack with four assists.

One of the bright newcomers for the Scarlet Knights has been Bridy Molyneaux, who played at Lawrenceville. Molyneaux has a pair of goals on the season.

Northwestern comes into Rutgers having won six of the last seven games and definitely one of the premier programs in the conference.

Bente Baekers leads the Wildcats with 15 points on five goals and five assists. Ana Medina-Garcia has five goals and one assist. Former Eastern High star, MacKenzie Keegan has four goals for Northwestern.

Rutgers closes out the regular season next weekend on the road at Maryland and then it’s off to Iowa and the Big Ten Tournament.