Rutgers Men's Lacrosse Takes on No. 5/7 Virginia
Feb 20 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Feb. 20, 2014) - After a 2-0 start to the 2014 season, the Rutgers men's lacrosse team continues at No. 5/7 Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. The game will be played at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. The Cavaliers are 3-0 on the year.
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RUTGERS
Record: 2-0, 0-0 BIG EAST
Ranking: NR/NR (USILA Coaches/IL Media)
Head Coach: Brian Brecht (Springfield, '95)
Career Record: 75-69 (10th season)
Record at RU: 10-20 (Third season)
Statistical Leaders
Goals: Scott Klimchak - 9
Assists: Bieda, Nardella - 4
Points: Scott Klimchak - 10
GBs: Joseph Nardella - 23
Saves: Kris Alleyne - 24
VIRGINIA
Record: 3-0, 0-0 ACC
Ranking: 5/7 (USILA Coaches/IL Media)
Head Coach: Dom Starsia (Brown, '74)
Career Record: 351-130 (32nd season)
Record at Virginia: 250-84 (22nd season)
Statistical Leaders
Goals: James Pannell - 10
Assists: Owen Van Arsdale - 6
Points: James Pannell - 12
GBs: Mick Parks - 19
Saves: Matt Barrett - 29
SCOUTING THE VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
Virginia has started the season a 3-0, defeating then-No. 12 Loyola (Md.) (Feb. 6), Richmond (Feb. 8) and Drexel (Feb. 16). The Cavaliers won each game by one goal.
Offensively, sophomore James Pannell has paced UVa with a team-high 10 goals and 12 points. Mark Cockerton is also in double figure points with seven goals and three assists. Defensively, starter Scott McWilliams has caused six turnovers and GK Matt Barrett is coming off a 16-save performance vs. Drexel on Feb. 16, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The squad consists of six Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-Americans, including Cockerton (Second Team) and McWilliams (Third Team).
UVa is led by Dom Starsia, who is in his 22nd season at the helm.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Rutgers is 4-4 all-time against Virginia in a series dating back to 1950. The two teams last met in 2000, and RU last defeated the Cavaliers, 7-6, on May 10, 1990.
CONNECTIONS
Rutgers head coach Brian Brecht was an assistant under UVa associate head coach Marc Van Arsdale at Penn from 1997-99. Van Arsdale was the head coach of the Quakers.
RU senior M Ben Schwing (Medford, N.J.), UVa senior Chris LaPierre and UVa freshman Jacob Dean each attended Shawnee HS.
TEAM SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Manhattan:
- As a team, RU scooped 41 ground balls, its most since recording 44 at St. John's (March 16, 2013).
Wagner:
- The 20 goals for the Scarlet Knights were the most since a 20-10 win over Wagner on Feb. 19 last season.
- The 15-goal victory for RU was its largest margin since downing Wagner on the road, 24-4, on Feb. 21, 2010.
- The 46 shots for Rutgers were the most since the squad tallied 54 at St. John's on March 16, 2013.
RU DEFEATS WAGNER, 20-5
Five players had multi-goal games as the Rutgers men's lacrosse team (2-0) defeated Wagner (0-1), 20-5, in Staten, Island, N.Y., on Feb. 18. Sixteen RU players notched at least one point in the game, while 10 scored at least one goal. The Scarlet Knights held a 46-40 advantage in shots, while securing 35 ground balls to the Seahawks' 23. RU improved to 6-0 all-time vs. Wagner.
KLIMCHAK IS BACK
Redshirt senior A Scott Klimchak (Clark, N.J.) scored a career-high tying five goals in the opener vs. Manhattan (Feb. 8). He followed that up with a four-goal, five-point performance at Manhattan (Feb. 18). He is currently 10th on RU's career goals list with 95. He has now scored at least one goal in 19 straight games, the fourth-longest goal-scoring streak in the country, dating back to April 21, 2012 vs. Michigan. He has posted 49 goals in that span. Klimchak also has a 20-game point scoring streak, dating back to April 14, 2012, with 49-10-59 GAP in that span.
RU Career Goals List
8. Bob Kelley (1954-56) 100
9. Chris Heffernan (1981-84) 96
10. Scott Klimchak (2010-14) 95
CIN-NARDELLA MAN
Junior FO Joe Nardella (Cazenovia, N.Y.) has won an impressive 36-of-41 face-offs (.878) this season. He also collected a career-high 17 ground balls vs. Manhattan (Feb. 8).
FRESHMEN FOCUS
Eight Rutgers freshmen have seen action this season, including two starts by freshman A Christian Trasolini (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Trasolini is second on the team in goals (6) and points (8). Classmate Connor Murphy (Clifton, Va.) has scored four goals this season.
SAVE-ING THE DAY
Sophomore GK Kris Alleyne (New City, N.Y.) has 24 saves in two games this season with a .706 save percentage. He has five-straight games with 10 or more saves, dating back to April 13, 2013 at Syracuse.
GOSS THE BOSS
Junior M Brian Goss (Arlington Heights, Ill.) had a big game at Wagner (Feb. 18), tying his career high with three goals and three ground balls, earning him Rutgers Men's Lacrosse Player of the Game honors.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers men's lacrosse, follow the program and Brecht on Twitter (@RUMLax and @RUlaxCoach) and Facebook. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
