After a long wait, Rutgers lacrosse is finally back. The last time the Scarlet Knights took the field in a game that counted was March 7, 2020. Following that, just before a showdown against No. 1 Syracuse, the COVID-19 pandemic ended that season prematurely. After a long wait, lots of testing and precautions, and gradually adjusting to the new normal, Rutgers has been able to get back to action. 

The exceptional leadership on this squad helped the team stay grounded through trying times. After being separate through the state's lockdown, the team relishes the opportunity to be back together. 

Adapting to new circumstances, the Scarlet Knights had to stay focused through all the upheaval to get to this point. 

After an extended offseason, and following all protocols, the team was able to get back on the field and practicing together. Once the team regrouped, it became clear that this was a talented group eager for another opportunity to prove its mettle. 

Over the past few years, the Scarlet Knights have proved themselves as worthy of consideration among the top teams in the country. RU enters this season ranked in the top-20 by every publication, and the team is eager to show what the team’s been working on and validate that on the field. 

The Scarlet Knights will boost a potent group of returning offensive talent. The Scarlet Knights bring back their top seven scorers from last season, and still have five of the top six-point scorers from the team’s last full season in 2019. 

Key among returners are the duo of Adam Charalambides and Kieran Mullins. The pair of captains each had 20+ points in just six games last season, with Charalambides posting 15 goals and 7 assists, and Mullins posting 10 goals, 10 assists. Each was a Scholar All-American last season, with Mullins using an extra year of eligibility to return for this season. Charlambides (105 career goals) and Mullins (99) are each among the top-11 all-time on Rutgers’ goal-scoring leaderboard. 

RU also returns Ryan Gallagher, a team captain with 44 points in his last full season of action in 2019. David Sprock (12 goals in six games last season), Ross Scott, Brennan Kammish, Tommy Coyne and more will add firepower to the offense. 

On the defensive end, Rutgers brings back a number of experienced players. Captain Garrett Bullet, Zach Masessa and Jaryd-Jean Felix all bring starting experience at close defense, while Rutgers also has a talented group of long-stick and short-stick midfielders (2020 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Ethan Rall and 2016 Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection Zackary Franckowiak included). 

The Scarlet Knights also brought in a host newcomers, both in the freshman class and through transfers that are expected to make an impact. Rutgers brought in two sets of brothers, including the Kim brothers from Syracuse, as well as the Kirst brothers, the sons of former RU letterwinner Kyle Kirst.  Connor Kirst joins the Scarlet Knights after a stellar career at Villanova and was named a First Team Preseason All-American by multiple outlets, and was named a Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch alongside Charalambides and Kirst. His brother, Colin Kirst, joins the team as a goalkeeper from Lehigh. Additionally, faceoff specialist Johnathan Dugenio joins the Scarlet Knights from St. John’s. 

The team also had the opportunity to recently move into the brand-new Gary and Barbara Rodkin Center for Academic Success. Featuring a brand-new locker room and multiple resources for the team to utilized, the program is well positioned for future success.

The 2021 spring season gets started this Saturday as the Scarlet Knights will host No. 6 Penn State on Saturday at noon. The game will be streamed by BTN Plus with Lou Brogno and Rick Mercurio on the call. During the COVID-19 pandemic, events at Rutgers Athletics venues for the 2020-21 competition year will operate in accordance with current statewide restrictions on public gatherings, with no fans in attendance. 

That matchup will be contested for the Friendship Cup, an annual rivalry matchup. This will be the 68th meeting all-time, with Rutgers leading the all-time series 43-24. The teams last met twice in 2019, with a 14-13 thriller in State College followed by a matchup the next week in the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Rutgers. The Nittany Lions are a tough opening test, as with conference-only competition, Rutgers will face five teams this year and four of them are in the preseason rankings. Rutgers’ first four games of the season will come against three top-10 preseason teams (No. 6 Penn State, No. 10 Ohio State, Michigan and then No. 2 Maryland).