PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse completed a 2019 season that saw numerous achievements both on and off the field. The Scarlet Knights displayed exceptional individual and team accomplishments that bode well for extending the team's success into the future.
 
SEASON NOTABLES

• The team's highest ranked victory came on the road, a 14-6 trouncing of No. 4 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights opened Big Ten play by dominating the previously undefeated Buckeyes, opening up a 5-1 lead after one quarter and never looked back. Kieran Mullins led the way with an eight-point day on four goals and four assists, while Max Edelmann made 17 saves.

• Rutgers earned an emotional victory in a rivalry game by downing in-state rival Princeton 9-8 to capture the Meistrell Cup. Edelmann made 18 saves in the contest, none bigger than a stop with six seconds remaining to preserve the victory. 

• The Scarlet Knights observed a number of recognitions as part of its final home game, an 11-9 win over Michigan. The team wore the name "Schambach" on the back of each jersey to honor alumnus Mike Schambach, who tragically passed away last summer. At halftime, Rutgers honored three NCAA Tournament teams (1974, 1984 and 2004) as part of Alumni Appreciation Day, then held senior day ceremonies postgame.

• For the first time, Rutgers was the host for the Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Tournament. The event was held on the first weekend in May at HighPoint.com Stadium.
• This year's graduating senior class won a total of 37 games, the program record for wins by a class.
• Rutgers played a challenging schedule that included seven games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights had the 12^th hardest strength of schedule in the second-ranked conference by RPI.
• Rutgers drew 12,711 fans for eight home games, an average of 1,589, with an addition 2,097 attending the Big Ten Tournament game at HighPoint.com Stadium. The Scarlet Knights ranked 11^th in total attendance in the NCAA.  

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES
 

• Adam Charalambides led the team with 47 goals, which ranks third all-time in a single season in Rutgers history. His 18 goals in conference-only games led Big Ten. He finished the season seventh in the nation in goals per game (3.13) and ended season with 23-game goal-scoring streak that was seventh longest in the nation among returning players and a 31-game point streak that is ninth longest in the nation among returners.
• Kieran Mullins led the team with 37 assists, which was the eighth-most in a single season in Rutgers history. With an average of 2.85 per game, he finished sixth in the nation. He was second on the team with 60 points.
• Goalkeeper Max Edelmann averaged 14.69 saves per game, which at the conclusion of the regular season was the best mark in the country.
• Kyle Pless ranked second in the Big Ten with 1.6 caused turnovers per game, while Garrett Michaeli was third at 1.33.

ACCOLADES

• The Scarlet Knights had three All-Americans as Max Edelmann (Third Team), Kieran Mullins (Honorable Mention) and Kyle Pless (Honorable Mention) earned the recognition. This marked the second-straight year that RU had three All-Americans and the fourth straight year Rutgers has had multiple All-Americans. A total of 12 Scarlet Knights that have been named All-Americans with coach Brecht at the helm of the program.
• Rutgers set a program record with four All-Big Ten players and three First Team selections. Attackman Adam Charalambides, goalkeeper Max Edelmann and attackman Kieran Mullins were named First Team All-Big Ten, while defenseman Kyle Pless was named Second Team All-Big Ten. Edelmann was also named Big Ten Co-Specialist of the Year. Owen Mead was Rutgers' Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree.
• RU led all schools with four student-athletes on the All-ECAC Team, as Charalambides, Edelmann, Mullins and Pless all earned the recognition.
• Rutgers was well represented at the USILA North/South Senior All-Star Game. Mark Christiano, Max Edelmann, Garrett Michaeli and Kyle Pless all were selected to play in the game, while coach Brecht and his staff coached the South Team. 
• Another program record was set as five student-athletes were named Scholar All-Americans: Adam Charalambides, Mark Christiano, Max Edelmann, Garrett Michaeli and Kyle Pless.
• Another program record was set with 24 student-athletes named Academic All-Big Ten.
• Rutgers earned 12 weekly awards from the Big Ten this season. Since joining the conference in 2015, Rutgers has earned 56 Big Ten Player of the Week accolades. Kyle Pless (four-time Defensive Player of the Week), Kieran Mullins (two-time Offensive Player of the Week) and Max Edelmann (two-time Specialist of the Week) all earned multiple recognitions, while Connor Harryman, Garrett Bullett, Alex Schoen and Ethan Rall also earned a weekly award.
• Three graduating seniors were selected by Major League Lacrosse teams to join the professional ranks: Kyle Pless (Denver Outlaws), Garrett Michaeli (Chesapeake Bayhawks) and Max Edelmann (Chesapeake Bayhawks).

 
FOR THE FUTURE
Despite graduating the winningest senior class in program history, the Scarlet Knights will boast a deep, talented and experienced group of returning players. 

• Rutgers will return its top six point scorers from last season (Charalambides - 61, Mullins – 60, Ryan Gallagher - 44, Tommy Coyne - 24, Owen Mead – 20 and David Sprock - 13).
• Thirteen different returners have previous starting experience
  • Mullins, Charalambides, Gallagher, Coyne, Mark Schachte, Sprock, Joe Peterson, Owen Mead, Michael Sanguinetti, Garrett Bullett, Jack Stahanczyk, Jack Thompson, Jordan Pakzad
• Rutgers' seniors scored 21 of the 276 points last year, a 7.61 percentage that was eighth in all of Division I.
• Seniors made 43-of-150 starts, a 28.67 percentage that was 37^th in all of Division I.
• Rutgers will be one of nine Division I teams to return a pair of 60-plus point scorers (Mullins and Charalambides).
• Rutgers broke ground on the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center. ­ The facility will serve as the new home for Rutgers lacrosse with state-of-the-art offices and training facilities. It will also consolidate and provide a range of academic resources, including advising, learning specialists, one-on-one and group tutoring. ­

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 .For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.