Men's Lacrosse Announces 2017 Award Winners
Oct 23 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's lacrosse program announced its 2017 individual award winners Sunday at the team's annual banquet. The banquet was held in conjunction with the team's annual Alumni Game, and as part of Homecoming Weekend. The weekend started Friday night at the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner, where two RU lacrosse legends, Tom Hayes and Bob Vencak, were inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame.
The program honored a successful 2017 season at the year-end banquet. The Scarlet Knights finished with a 10-4 record, recording back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in program history. The team recorded four ranked victories, reached number one in the national rankings themselves and concluded the season with a thrilling victory over the No. 3 team in the nation.
Defenseman Michael Rexrode earned the William Miller Trophy, awarded to that team member who, by his own example, has served as an inspiration to his teammates and made the greatest contribution to the team during the season. The Third Team All-American was RU's top defenseman and a team captain, a First Team All-Big Ten selection who led the Big Ten with a career-high 23 caused turnovers and had 28 ground balls.
Kieran Mullins was given the Al Twitchell Award, given to the freshman who was seen as the most valuable to the team. The first-year forward exploded onto the scene with a team-high 35 goals and 51 points, also notching 16 assists and 17 ground balls.
Jules Heningburg earned the Alfred Sasser Trophy, given to the player who leads the squad in assists. The All-American attackman had a team-high 26 assists while also coming in second on the squad with 20 goals and 46 points.
Graduating senior Jeff George won the Doc Peterson Award in recognition of his balance of both academics and athletics and also putting the success of the program and his teammates ahead of himself. George, a starter at midfield, scored 19 goals and had nine assists last season.
Graduating senior Charlie Nicklaus, a defensive midfielder, brought home the Knight Cup. The award is given annually to the player who has played the game of lacrosse to the best of his ability, and who has, by example, inspired or led his teammates both on and off the field and who, above all, has consistently demonstrated the qualities of unselfishness and loyalty to his team and Rutgers University.
Graduating senior Pat McCabe was awarded the Robert Collett Trophy, which is given in recognition of the member of the squad who displays the best mental and physical spirit. McCabe spent his last season 'On the Banks' as a team captain.
Graduating senior Connor Murphy was presented the Frederick Fitch Trophy, bestowed to the varsity letter-winner who, through personal effort to develop his lacrosse ability, showed the greatest improvement during the season. Murphy slotted into a starting attack role as a senior, totalling 26 goals, second on the team, while also adding 14 assists and 21 ground balls.
The Collins Award, awarded to the Rutgers lacrosse team member who had the greatest increase in GPA was presented to Jake Nordhausen. The Campbell Sode Scholar Athlete Award, awarded to the member of the team with the highest GPA, was presented to Mark Schachte.
