The Rutgers Scarlet Knights field hockey program is set to launch the 2026 season with a pair of road contests, starting Friday at 4 p.m. against Monmouth and wrapping up Sunday at 1 p.m. at Wagner. Both games will be broadcast live, with the Monmouth matchup streaming on FLO College and NBC Sports Philadelphia, while the Wagner game will be carried by NEC Front Row.
Fans can expect a high‑energy atmosphere as the Scarlet Knights step onto unfamiliar turf, but the team enters the season with a solid foundation. Last year the squad posted a 9‑2 record in the Big Ten, captured a ranked victory over UConn and finished with an RPI of 19, highlighting the program’s steady upward trajectory.
Key Returners and New Additions
Eight players who saw action in the previous season return, including five who started every game. Among them are top scorers Sophie Kuiper, who netted eight goals, and Olivia Fraticelli, who contributed eleven. Goalkeeper Emily Nicholls also returns, bringing 108 career saves and a 78.8 % save percentage that place her among the program’s all‑time leaders.
The roster will also welcome nine newcomers, featuring transfers from Princeton and Virginia. Their arrival is intended to offset the departure of five graduating seniors, including all‑Big Ten selections Puck Winter and Paulina Niklaus, as well as defensive stalwarts Natalie Arnold and Erica Babitts, whose combined output accounted for 50 points last season.
Coaching Experience and Program History
Head coach Meredith Civico enters her 15th year at the helm, having already amassed 144 career victories. She is now poised to reach the 150‑win milestone, a testament to her consistency and the program’s stability. Under her guidance, Rutgers has posted double‑digit win seasons in 11 of the past 14 years and has secured at least four Big Ten victories in seven of the last eight campaigns.
The upcoming schedule also includes a high‑profile home series against No. 5 Virginia and No. 9 Syracuse as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, offering the Scarlet Knights a chance to test themselves against some of the nation’s elite. These matches follow the initial road tests and are expected to draw significant attention from the college hockey community.
Monmouth arrives as the No. 18 nationally ranked team, having posted a 13‑win season a year ago and earned a CAA Championship Game appearance. Their defense, anchored by reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Year Eulalie Brouwers, presents a formidable challenge. Wagner, selected first in the NEC Preseason Poll, finished 8‑12 last year and reached the NEC title game, adding another layer of competition to the early schedule.
Overall, the Scarlet Knights blend experienced leadership with fresh talent, aiming to extend a program that has been among the most consistent in the Big Ten. The early road games will serve as a litmus test, revealing strengths and areas for growth as the team looks to maintain its reputation as a perennial contender.