Rutgers Game Notes

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 16 Rutgers men's lacrosse opens the 2017 season on Saturday with a road contest at Saint John's. The contest will begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

The Scarlet Knights enter the campaign after an extremely successful 2016 season. The team tied a program record with 11 victories, earned three wins over ranked foes and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament finals. The key returner for the Scarlet Knights is Jules Heningburg, a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season after scoring 39 goals with 21 assists, and was recently named a Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse. RU also returns a host of young talent among seven returning starters that includes the team's top defender (Michael Rexrode) who is a co-captain alongside Heningburg and senior Pat McCabe.

St. John's went 2-12 last season, claiming wins over Siena and Georgetown. The Red Storm must replace its top point scorer last season (Eric DeJohn, 23 goals and 21 assists), along with a new starter between the pipes. They do bring back Jason DeBendedictis, who score 33 goals last season.

Rutgers leads the all-time series against St. John's, 19-5. This will be the third straight season the teams have opened the season against each other. RU has won its last three games against its former conference foe.

Last year, RU opened the season with a 19-11 triumph over the Red Storm. Among returning active players, senior Connor Murphy (who started the game) and junior Chad Toliver tallied twice in the game, while Jules Heningburg had a goal and two assists. Goalkeeper Max Edelmann made his Rutgers debut with nine saves to earn the victory.

The annual matchup also pits a pair of collegiate teammates against each other. Head coaches Brian Brecht (Rutgers) and Jason Miller (St. John's) played lacrosse at Springfield College, with Miller graduating in 1993 and Brecht graduating in 1995. With the two as head coaches of their current programs, Brecht is 3-2 against Miller.