Rutgers Earns First National Ranking of the Season
Apr 09 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's lacrosse team (4-4, 2-2) received its first national ranking of the season following two wins this past week. The Scarlet Knights were ranked No. 20 in the April 9 Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll after defeating Manhattan on April 3 and eighth-ranked Loyola on April 7. The Scarlet Knights also received votes in the April 9 STX/Geico USILA Coaches Poll.
Rutgers defeated the Jaspers, 10-3, for the team's first win of the week. The three goals marked the fewest scored against RU this season. The Scarlet Knights also forced 17 Jasper turnovers, in comparison to just 10 by RU, while the offense erupted for 10 goals from five different players.
The biggest win of the week came with the defeat of then-No. 8 Loyola. The victory was the program's first-ever against the Greyhounds, as Loyola had held a 7-0 edge in the all-time series against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights also snapped Loyola's five-game winning streak. The last time Rutgers defeated a ranked opponent was on March 25, 2006, when the team defeated then-No. 19 Hobart, 8-7, in Piscataway, N.J.
Eight different players scored for Rutgers against the Greyhounds, led by Mike Dugan's (Summit, N.J.) four scores. The 17 goals tied the team's highest scoring output in a single game this season, while the Scarlet Knights defense also held the Greyhounds to just seven goals, matching Loyola's lowest scoring output of the season.
Following the team's two victories, head coach Jim Stagnitta was named the US Lacrosse Coach of the Week. Stagnitta has now posted nine wins over ranked opponents in his five-plus seasons at the helm of the program.
The Scarlet Knights will be back in action when they travel to No. 17 Syracuse on Sunday, April 15, at 1:00 p.m.
