The Rutgers women’s lacrosse team is looking to continue its historic season in the NCCAA Tournament.

Making the tournament was a moment 22 years in the making.

“Knowing my team and everything that we’ve been through and sacrificed and to see our name pop up on that screen, I think it really made a statement for us and we were so excited,” says sophomore midfielder Cassidy Spilis.

The Scarlet Knights are heading to the tournament for the first time since 1999, and for just the second time in the program’s history.

“We were really confident that we were going to get in, but just knowing and seeing our name up there gave us that confidence that we are a national contender,” says senior attack Taralyn Naslonski.

The women’s team earned an at-large bid and will face Drexel in the first round of the tournament on Friday at Stony Brook University.

“We always talk about grit and that Jersey grit, so I think just playing with that and going after everything 100% and giving 1% more, I think we’ll come out on top,” says Naslonski.

Rutgers had to play a difficult conference-only schedule. Despite finishing 6-8, five of those wins came over ranked opponents – a program record.

“We’re the underdogs a lot and no matter what people say about us, the polls that come out that go against us, we really take it to heard and we don’t let it stop us. We let it fuel us,” says Spilis.

Rutgers was also nationally ranked this season for the first time since 2013. Players say that their motto is “Brick by Brick” and there is still plenty more to build on.

“It's just an honor and I'm really excited and we have made it to the NCAA Tournament one year, but we have never won an NCAA Tournament game,” says Naslonski. “I think we’re not done making history just yet.”

The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team also made it to the NCAA tournament.