April 7, 2016
Rutgers Game Notes
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 18 Rutgers men's lacrosse (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) continues conference play on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Michigan (3-6, 0-1 Big Ten) to High Point Solutions Stadium for a noon start. The first-place Scarlet Knights are currently unbeaten (5-0) at home this season.
The game will be live-streamed on BTN Plus. It is also jersey day, as RU will raffle off an autographed Rutgers lacrosse jersey.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a signature victory last Saturday night, downing No. 9 Johns Hopkins, 16-9. The win marked the highest ranked opponent RU has bested since 2007 and its first victory over Johns Hopkins since 1990. In fact, Rutgers' last two conference games (dating back to last season) have been home victories over top-10 opponents (17-10 win over then No. 10 Ohio State).
"We have put the Hopkins win behind us and moved on to our gameplan for Michigan," head coach Brian Brecht explained. "We're going to have to be focused and locked in on who we are playing and what their tendencies and strengths are. We have a great opportunity for 60 minutes on game day Sunday. This game is the next step in our process in handling our Big Ten schedule."
Rutgers boasts one of the nation's most lethal attack units, with senior Scott Bieda (Big Ten-leading 43 points), redshirt freshman Adam Charalambides (Big Ten-leading 29 goals) and sophomore Jules Heningburg (career-best 22 goals, 14 assists). RU has also seen freshman Josh Jordan emerge into a weapon recently, as he has two goals in each of his last three games and has multiple goals in two thirds of his career games. The Scarlet Knights are also strong at the back end. Excellent play from its rope unit has led to the nation's top clearing percentage (92.5 percent) and a top-three ground ball rate (35.5 ground balls per game). RU also received a season-best performance in the cage from senior Kris Alleyne, who made 14 saves to backstop RU to a win over JHU.
Michigan enters the game at with a 3-6 overall mark. After opening the year 3-2, UM has dropped four straight. Its opening Big Ten game was a tight contest against No. 5 Maryland, falling 8-7 on a goal in the final minute.
The Wolverines are led offensively by Kyle Jackson (23 goals, six assists) and Ian King (nine goals, 13 assists), but the pair have missed the past two games due to injury. UM has also gotten 15 goals from Peter Kraus. In goal, Gerald Logan has an 11.80 goals-against average and 51.5 save percentage.
The teams have met twice lifetime, with Michigan in just its sixth season of Division I competition after transitioning from a club program. In 2012 Rutgers earned a 13-9 home victory over UM. Last season, the pair met for the first time as conference opponents, with Michigan scratching out a 10-8 win. Bieda had seven points (two goals, five assists) in that contest, while Heningburg and Ryan Hollingsworth each scored twice.
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.
