PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse newcomer Connor Kirst was ranked among the top players in the country in a preseason Inside Lacrosse article. In a ranking of the top 50 players (men's and women's), Kirst came in at No. 23. Kirst was behind just 11 other men's lacrosse players in the rankings. 

Kirst transferred to Rutgers following a four-year career at Villanova, where he scored 84 goals and added 42 assists for 126 career points. A starter in 35 career games, Kirst collected 101 ground balls and caused 15 turnovers. The Bernardsville, N.J. native was an Inside Lacrosse First Team All-American in 2020. In 2019, was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and was an USILA All-American and Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American. He was also a First Team all-conference selection in 2018. 

"He's an immense boost to the Scarlet Knights' offense — both in size and in impact," Inside Lacrosse wrote. "A stellar career, he took another leap forward last season for Villanova, netting 17 goals and seven assists. His best games were against the best competition: Yale and Maryland."

Kirst joins his brother Colin Kirst on the squad this year, as the duo are each part of a highly-touted newcomer group for this season. Their father, Kyle, was a goalkeeper at Rutgers from 1988 to 1990 and was inducted into the NJ Lacrosse Hall of Fame. 

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