Photo by: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Eleven Alumni with Pro Lacrosse Teams as Season Set to Begin
Jul 13 | Men's Lacrosse
With professional sports set to resume, 11 former Rutgers men's lacrosse alumni have homes with MLL or PLL teams. The Scarlet Knights are represented on four of six MLL teams and four of seven PLL teams. From the time the MLL begins action on July 18th through the PLL's Championship Game on August 9th, nearly every day will have a professional lacrosse game featuring a Rutgers alumnus. Rutgers boasts a total of 18 alumni coached at RU by current head coach Brian Brecht to go on to the professional level, and 31 all-time.
Major League Lacrosse
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Rexrode will lead a trio of former Scarlet Knight defenders with the Outlaws. Rexrode enters his third MLL season off an impeccable 2019 campaign, recording a team-high 16 caused turnovers to go with 35 ground balls in 16 games with Denver, leading them to the championship game.
"My expectations for this season, I want to perform my role to the best of my ability to help us win a championship," Rexrode said. "I trust that the coaches are going to put us in a spot where I can best beneft the team with my skill set. That's my job, to perform in that role. This year, were coming back and ready to take it to whoever is on the other side of the field."
Pless returns to Denver for a second MLL season. Last year he scooped 14 ground balls and causing six turnovers as the team advanced to the league's title game.
"I'm looking forward to having a fully healthy season," said Pless, who missed eight games with a knee injury last season. "I want to help the team in any way that I can. We're looking to win a championship, the Outlaws are a great organization, we're looking to keep things going and get back to the championship."
Michaeli will look to make his MLL on-field debut this season. Originally selected by the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the 2019 Collegiate Draft, he was picked up by Denver in this year's Supplemental Draft.
Last season, Alleyne saw action in five games for the Rattlers as a backup goalkeeper, allowing just one goal in 15 minutes of game time played.
"It's certainly been a unique offseason," Alleyne told former teammates Alex Schoen and Ryan Cunningham in a recent interview for their podcast. I've been training and am definitely ready to get it going, it can't come quick enough. It's awesome to be back and get some exposure for the sport through ESPN."
Toliver played in three games for the Atlanta Blaze last season before suffering an injury. In that time, he had two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Trasolini was picked up this year by the Lizards in the Supplemental Draft, and was previously with the Dallas Rattlers He will look to make his professional debut. He is on the team's reserve roster.
With the Blaze last season, Edelmann saw action in 11 games while serving as the team's backup goalkeeper. He made 25 saves in that time. He is on the team's reserve roster.
Nardella is back for a second seconds with the Whipsnakes after leading them to a PLL championship last season in the inaugural season of the league. He led the PLL last season with 85 ground balls, was third in faceoff percentage and was a nominee for Faceoff Specialist of the Year, Nardella won 127-of-234 faceoffs for a 54.2% winning percentage.
"When you think about the potential foor our sport in what could possibly be on the horizon with the amount of eyes that are going be watching us, it gives me the chills to think, lacrosse could finally be here," Nardella said. "This is the biggest TV slate on a major network that our sport has ever had. I can't wait for the product on NBC. They did an amazing job last year and I think they, as the PLL always does, will step up their game and dominate this."
Heningburg had a breakout season in his PLL debut. He he finished with 21 goals and 33 points, both tied for the fourth most in the league, and helped the Redwoods advance to a championship game matchup with Nardella's Whipsnakes.
Mazzone will make his PLL debut this season, switching leagues following a stellar campaign with the MLL's Atlanta Blaze. In his first professional lacrosse action, he recorded 42 points and 47 ground balls, the only player in the MLL to reach the '40 and 40' mark. He scored 33 goals and had nine assists with two caused turnovers in guiding the team to its first ever playoff berth. After the season, he was named one of the Top 5 Midfielders in the League.
Mattes is in his second season in the PLL as a faceoff specialist with the Atlas. He spent 2011-2018 in the MLL, playing in 53 games with 228 ground balls and 609 faceoff wins. Mattes is on the team's reserve roster.
NATIONAL TV APPEARANCES
MLL
Sunday July 19: 4 pm: Outlaws-Barrage, ESPN2
PLL
Saturday July 25 4 pm: Redwoods-Whipsnakes, NBC
August 6 TBD – Semifinal, NBCSN
August 9 TBD – Championship, NBC
Major League Lacrosse
- Michael Rexrode - Denver Outlaws
- Kyle Pless - Denver Outlaws
- Garrett Michaeli - Denver Outlaws
- Kris Alleyne - Connecticut Hammerheads
- Chad Toliver - Philadelphia Barrage
- Christian Trasolini - NY Lizards
- Max Edelmann - Philadelphia Barrage
- Joe Nardella – Whipsnakes
- Jules Heningburg – Redwoods
- Christian Mazzone – Archers
- Chris Mattes – Atlas
| MICHAEL REXRODE - DENVER OUTLAWS |
Twitter | Instagram Rexrode will lead a trio of former Scarlet Knight defenders with the Outlaws. Rexrode enters his third MLL season off an impeccable 2019 campaign, recording a team-high 16 caused turnovers to go with 35 ground balls in 16 games with Denver, leading them to the championship game.
"My expectations for this season, I want to perform my role to the best of my ability to help us win a championship," Rexrode said. "I trust that the coaches are going to put us in a spot where I can best beneft the team with my skill set. That's my job, to perform in that role. This year, were coming back and ready to take it to whoever is on the other side of the field."
| KYLE PLESS - DENVER OUTLAWS |
"I'm looking forward to having a fully healthy season," said Pless, who missed eight games with a knee injury last season. "I want to help the team in any way that I can. We're looking to win a championship, the Outlaws are a great organization, we're looking to keep things going and get back to the championship."
| GARRETT MICHAELI - DENVER OUTLAWS |
| KRIS ALLEYNE - CONNECTICUT HAMMERHEADS |
"It's certainly been a unique offseason," Alleyne told former teammates Alex Schoen and Ryan Cunningham in a recent interview for their podcast. I've been training and am definitely ready to get it going, it can't come quick enough. It's awesome to be back and get some exposure for the sport through ESPN."
| CHAD TOLIVER - PHILADELPHIA BARRAGE |
| CHRISTIAN TRASOLINI - NY LIZARDS |
| MAX EDELMANN - PHILADELPHIA BARRAGE |
PLL
| JOE NARDELLA - WHIPSNAKES |
"When you think about the potential foor our sport in what could possibly be on the horizon with the amount of eyes that are going be watching us, it gives me the chills to think, lacrosse could finally be here," Nardella said. "This is the biggest TV slate on a major network that our sport has ever had. I can't wait for the product on NBC. They did an amazing job last year and I think they, as the PLL always does, will step up their game and dominate this."
| JULES HENINGBURG - REDWOODS |
| CHRISTIAN MAZZONE - ARCHERS |
| CHRIS MATTES - ATLAS |
NATIONAL TV APPEARANCES
MLL
Sunday July 19: 4 pm: Outlaws-Barrage, ESPN2
- Rexrode, Pless and Michaeli face Toliver and Edelmann
PLL
Saturday July 25 4 pm: Redwoods-Whipsnakes, NBC
- Heningburg vs. Nardella
- Mattes
- Heningburg
- Mazzone vs. Mattes
- Mazzone
- Heningburg
- Nardella vs. Mattes
- Nardella
- Heningburg
- Nardella
August 6 TBD – Semifinal, NBCSN
August 9 TBD – Championship, NBC
Players Mentioned
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
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