Video: Coach Brecht talks about playing in the first Big Ten Men's Lacrosse game

BALTIMORE, Md. -- In the first ever Big Ten Conference men's lacrosse game, Rutgers was eager to make an impact. On the road against traditional power Johns Hopkins, the Scarlet Knights made a strong impression in front of the crowd of 1,116, using a 4-0 third quarter surge to hold a 7-6 lead entering the final quarter. Ultimately, the Scarlet Knights (4-7, 0-1 Big Ten) could not complete the upset bid, and fell to the No. 19/20 Blue Jays (4-5, 1-0 Big Ten) by a score of 9-7.

"We prepared well to come down and play a big time program," head coach Brian Brecht said. "Our guys were prepared and focused for today. Give Johns Hopkins a lot of credit; they are a great team with a lot of talented players. We got some great saves from our goalie. Our defense really tightened up. The way that we played in the third quarter, we needed to do that for sixty minutes to get a big win on the road against a top program."

Rutgers held a 29-24 edge on ground balls, and won 10-of-19 faceoffs. Freshman Jules Heningburg led the team with two goals, while goaltender Kris Alleyne made a season-high 12 saves.

The Scarlet Knights got Big Ten play off to a great start, scoring on the opening possession. Joe Nardella won the faceoff and RU capitalized, as he found Heningburg, who fired in a goal just 12 seconds into the game.

JHU answered with two goals to take a 2-1 advantage. But captain Scott Bieda made a strong individual play, driving to the net and finishing with an unassisted goal to tie the score at 2-2.

The Blue Jays opened the second quarter on an extra-man opportunity, and scored to take a 3-2 lead. One minute later, JHU forced a turnover near midfield, carried down and scored to extend the advantage to 4-2.

Rutgers had a goal from Bieda waved off, but the junior drew a JHU penalty on the play. The Blue Jays killed off the penalty, and would score at the other end to take a 5-2 lead with 6:30 left in the second quarter.

Rutgers answered back, as Zack Sikora fired in a goal from long distance, cutting the home squad's advantage to 5-3. But the Blue Jays quickly counted with a goal to go back ahead by three goals, and took a 6-3 lead into the halftime locker room.

The third quarter was where Rutgers made its charge back into the game, outscoring JHU 4-0 in the frame. RU again got out to a strong start, scoring on the opening possession as Jeff George potted a goal to make the score 6-4.

Shortly after, George had a shot saved, but Connor Murphy scooped up the rebound and sent it home to bring the game back to a one-goal margin. Then it was Christian Trasolini who tied it, as his tally brought the score even at 6-6.

With 1:10 left in the third quarter, Rutgers took the lead. Murphy fed Heningburg, and the freshman finished for his second goal of the game to take a 7-6 lead, capping the four goal run.

JHU finally broke through for its first goal of the second half at 10:36 of the fourth quarter, tying the game at 7-7. Ryan Brown tallied his fourth goal of the game for Johns Hopkins, scoring halfway through the fourth quarter to put the Blue Jays back in front.

The Scarlet Knights pressed hard in the final minutes to try and re-tie the score. However, Johns Hopkins added a late tally and took the 9-7 victory.

"It was very exciting for our student athletes and our institution to have this opportunity to play the first Big Ten lacrosse game," Brecht said. "We were dreaming and believing for a long time to have something to hang our hat on, and we just came up a little short. When you play a talented team like Johns Hopkins, you're going to have to make plays and earn everything. I'm proud of the way our team handled this week and playing the first Big Ten game."

The Scarlet Knights next game will present another Big Ten road trip. Rutgers will head to Ann Arbor, Mich., where they will face off against Michigan at 12 p.m. on Sunday.

Postgame Notes
· The game was the first ever Big Ten Conference men's lacrosse game played.
· Jules Heningburg scored the first goal in the history of Big Ten Conference men's lacrosse.   
· Heningburg's goal at 14:48 of the first quarter was the earliest goal of the season for Rutgers.
· Kris Alleyne made a season-high 12 saves.
· Zack Sikora's fourth goal of the season represents a new career-high.
· Christian Mazzone (five ground balls) and Christian Trasolini (four ground balls) each tied their career-highs.
· Joe Nardella has won double-digit faceoffs in 10 games this season (10-of-19 today).