ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT women's lacrosse team opens its 2022 season on Wednesday (Feb. 23) at Nazareth. Here are the top six things you need to know about the Tigers heading into the season.

1. LIBERTY LEAGUE 2022
RIT was picked fourth in the 2022 Liberty League Preseason Coach's Poll behind Clarkson, William Smith and Ithaca. The Tigers finished seventh in the Liberty League last season, with three wins in an abbreviated conference schedule.

2. VETERAN LEADERS
Seniors Colette Rigas, Krystyna Sterio and McKenna Joint and junior Rose Core were selected team captains in 2022. Rigas returns after tallying 20 points on 16 goals and four assists in 2019, earning Second Team All-Liberty League honors. Sterio recorded career-highs in goals (28), points (32), ground balls (13) and draw controls (27) in 2019. Joint started all 12 games last season and was a Second Team All-Liberty League selection, while Core finished with 29 ground balls.

3. WHEN THE TIGERS HAVE THE BALL
RIT returns four of its top-seven scorers from last season in senior Steph Darrell, Joint, junior Baylee West and sophomore Kayleigh Ground. Darrell finished fourth on the team in scoring last season with 21 points on 13 goals and eight assists. Joint was fifth with 18 points on 12 goals and six assists, while West finished tied for third on the team with 13 goals. Ground finished with 12 goals and 18 points last season.

4. DEFENSE…DEFENSE
Core, senior Michaela Mills and junior Rachel Border all return on defense. Core and Border finished tied for second on the team with 10 caused turnovers last season, while Mills grabbed 13 ground balls and caused five turnovers.

5. STRONG SECOND HALF
In RIT's seven wins last season, the Tigers outscored their opponents 55-26 in the second half. RIT tallied a season-best 11 second-half goals in a 15-13 comeback win over Nazareth, and came back with eight second-half goals to beat Skidmore.

6. 2022 SCHEDULE
Third-year head coach Erin Wagner and the Tigers are scheduled to play 15 regular season games, including 10 in the Liberty League. The Tigers will play six games at home, and nine away. Four of RIT's 15 opponents are ranked in the IWLCA Division III Preseason Poll and two teams played in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
 
RIT plays five non-conference games beginning Feb. 23 at Nazareth. The Tigers play No. 22 Geneseo (March 2), Pomona-Pittzer (March 6), Colorado College (March 9) and No. 16 Brockport (March 30) to wrap up non-conference play.
 
RIT plays at Rochester on March 16 to begin Liberty League play. The Tigers host Clarkson (March 19), before playing four straight Liberty League road games at Vassar (March 25), at Bard (March 26), at RPI (Apr. 2) and at No. 6 William Smith (Apr. 6) before returning home to host No. 4 Ithaca (Apr. 16). RIT hosts Union (Apr. 22) and Skidmore (Apr. 23) and finishes the regular season at St. Lawrence (Apr. 30).