ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT women's lacrosse team opens its 2026 season on Saturday (Feb. 21) against Geneseo. Here are the six things you need to know about the Tigers heading into the season.
 
1. 2026 CAPTAINS
Senior attack Zoe Heffernan, senior midfielders Adele Jones and Morgan Nichter, senior defender Emma Scott and junior defender Katherine Killian will serve as co-captains in 2026.
 
"Our five captains have played a major role in elevating the standard of our program, both in how we prepare to how we compete." said RIT head coach Erin Wagner. "They lead with purpose every day and challenge everyone around them to be better."
 
2. A LOOK BACK ON 2025
RIT posted an 11-6 record in 2026 finishing third in the Liberty League with a 7-3 conference mark. RIT beat St. Lawrence 13-12 in overtime in the first round of the Liberty League Tournament. Killian and Lily DePalma were First Team, IWLCA All-Empire Region selections and Nichter was a second team pick. Killian was the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Liberty League selection with DePalma and Nichter joining her on the first team. Jones was a Second Team All-Liberty League pick and Heffernan was a third team selection. Wagner and assistant coaches Emily Hawryschuk and Rachel Hillhouse were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
 
3. NEWCOMERS
RIT adds nine newcomers including seven first years and two transfers. First year defender Sofie Kiselgof, first year goalie Grace Riley, first year midfielder Abby Sekora, first year midfielder Rowyn Springer, first year defender Sophia Wilhelm and first-year defender Melia Wittlinger join transfers Julia Sodoma and Eliza Barton on the 2026 roster.
 
3. WHEN THE TIGERS HAVE THE BALL
The Tigers return six of their top seven leading scorers from a year ago led by Nichter. She recorded a career-high 67 points, 53 goals and 14 assists in 2025. She was fifth in the league averaging 3.94 points per game and fourth averaging 3.12 goals per game. Heffernan had career highs in points (66), goals (35) and assists (31) last season and was third on the team in scoring. Senior attack Jenna Bovenzi finished fourth on the team last season with a career-high 40 points (17g, 23a) and Jones was fifth with 31 points (28g, 3a) and was second on the team with 80 draw controls.
 
4. DEFENSE & GOALTENDER
Killian led RIT with 23 caused turnovers. She led the team and was second in the Liberty League with 55 ground balls and second in the league with 110 draw controls. Scott caused seven turnovers and grabbed nine ground balls and sophomore Jocelyn Lee had three caused turnovers and two ground balls last season. Wittlinger and Wilhelm add depth to the defense.
 
Senior Ellie Ruddy returns for 2026. She played in 13 games, making 63 saves. She enters her final season seventh all-time with 30 games played and eighth with 1,368 career minutes. She is eighth all-time with a 12.98 career goals-against average and eighth with 182 career saves. First year Grace Riley was a First Team Rhode Island All-Division selection at South Kingstown High School.
 
6. 2026 SCHEDULE
Seventh-year head coach Erin Wagner and the Tigers are scheduled to play 16 regular season games, including 10 in the Liberty League contests. The Tigers will play eight games at home and nine on the road. RIT will play three teams that participated in the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament (Ithaca, Oswego and William Smith) and two teams ranked in the IWLCA Division III poll (William Smith – No. 12, Ithaca – No. 23).
 
RIT plays six non-conference games beginning February 21 against Geneseo on the newly opened Judson Stadium. The Tigers play at Nazareth (Feb. 24) before returning home against Brockport (Feb. 28). RIT will host Oswego (March 6) before two games in Clearwater, Florida against Merchant Marine (March 9) and Bridgewater State (March 10).
 
RIT begins Liberty League play against No. 23 Ithaca (March 14) followed by a weekend series at Vassar (March 20) and at Bard (March 21). The Tigers close out March with a Liberty League game against Clarkson (March 28).
 
April begins with a pair of conference game against No. 12 William Smith (April 1). The Tigers play at Rochester (April 8) and at St. Lawrence (April 11). RIT hosts Union (April 17) and Skidmore (April 18). RIT closes out the regular season at RPI (April 25).