PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse enters the 2017 season on the heels of one of the most successful seasons in recent program history. After an 11 win campaign where they tied a program record for wins in 2016, RU opens this season ranked No. 16 in the nation in the preseason.

The Scarlet Knights proved their mettle against the nation's top teams last season. Rutgers claimed three victories over nationally ranked foes a year ago, including a pair of wins over Johns Hopkins (ranked No. 9 and No. 10 for those matchups), the final win being at Homewood Field in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals. RU also reclaimed its grip on the Friendship Cup with a 15-14 win over No. 17 Penn State.

2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year Brian Brecht will be tasked with replacing two All-Americans in attacker and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Scott Bieda (28 goals, 38 assists) and long-stick midfielder Zack Sikora. RU also graduated starters on defense (Branford Rogers) and at goalkeeper (Kris Alleyne).

The schedule boasts a number of challenges for the Scarlet Knights. A highly competitive non-conference slate features a visit from No. 11 Brown and a trip to No. 20 Fairfield. RU also faces two teams receiving votes in the Preseason Coaches Poll in Army West Point (home opener) and Stony Brook (home). Rutgers will also welcome Princeton for the annual rivalry matchup between the two New Jersey foes.

The Big Ten looks to be an intense battle again, with five of the six teams in the league nationally ranked in the preseason. RU will host No. 2 Maryland and No. 17 Ohio State, and travel to No. 8 Johns Hopkins, No. 15 Penn State and Michigan. The Scarlet Knights will have unprecedented national exposure this season with a majority of the games televised nationwide.

The key returner this season for the Scarlet Knights is junior attacker Jules Heningburg. The Maplewood, N.J. native was a First Team All-Big Ten selection after scoring 39 goals and adding 21 assists last season. In five league games, he paced the conference with 18 goals and 26 points. This season, he has already been recognized as a Preseason All-American (Third Team) and preseason All-Conference by Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook as well as a Big Ten Preseason Honoree.

Heningburg assumes a leadership role this season as one of the team's captains. He will be joined by two fellow captains in junior defender Michael Rexrode and senior defender Pat McCabe. The team also maintains a six-member "Knights Leadership Alliance" which includes those three captains, along with Christian Trasolini and Christian Mazzone and Christian Scarpello.

"I've been very impressed with our leadership so far," head coach Brian Brecht said. "Our focus is to replicate and get back to where we were at the end of last year. The fall season was great for our development. The older guys have been taking steps forward."

Heningburg will be the focal point of the Rutgers attack unit, which has to replace Bieda and 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Adam Charalambides, who will miss 2017 with an injury. The Scarlet Knights will look for seniors Connor Murphy (25 career goals in 36 games) and Collin Scarpello, along with freshman Kieran Mullins and Mark Schachte and redshirt sophomore Connor Vercruysse in that mix.

"We've been gaining chemistry as a unit," Heningburg said. "Guys have been stepping up. We're growing together as we approach the season."

The midfield group features a collection of talented players. Senior Jeff George had eight goals last season, while a pair of then-freshmen in Casey Rose (seven goals last season, including three in the Big Ten Semifinals against Johns Hopkins) and Josh Jordan (10 goals) reached double-digit points last season. Junior Chad Toliver (17 career goals) will be counted on as well. Senior Christian Trasolini, who scored 16 goals last season and was named a Big Ten Preseason Honoree, will miss the season with an injury.

On defense, the anchor of the unit is Rexrode, who has started all 26 games he has played since arriving "On the Banks". He has scooped 58 ground balls and led the team with 15 caused turnovers last season. Senior Chris Groel (18 career starts, 79 ground balls, 26 caused turnovers) and junior Alex Bronzo (eight starts last season) join him as projected starters.

The rope unit will be a key part of the team again this season. Rutgers boasts a talented group of short stick defensive midfielders that will see frequent action. The top pair, Mazzone and Scarpello, each had 12 points last season, while Austin Divitcos and Mark Christiano are also experienced players. At the pole, sophomore Kyle Pless and redshirt freshman Garrett Bullett will compete to replace Zack Sikora.

In the goal, Rutgers will replace graduated senior Kris Alleyne with junior Max Edelmann. Edelmann started the first three games of last season, making 27 saves and boasting a 9.82 goals-against-average.

At the faceoff X, Joe Francisco (80-of-186, .430) returns and will compete with freshman Palmer Lloyd. Alex Schoen (108-of-203, .532) is out with an injury.

"We need to get better each day in practice," Brecht said. "We need to take advantage of all the time we have together, watching film, with the coaching staff, drills, keep competing in practice like we have been. I like where we are coming out of the gates into the season and I'm excited to see how we'll look a month into the season and down the home stretch."

With the season opener approaching this Saturday at Saint John's, Rutgers is excited to begin the 2017 season. The Scarlet Knights are eager to build on the successes of 2016 and validate their place among the nation's best teams.

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 .