No. 5 Men’s Lacrosse Earns Multiple Conference Accolades

Photo by: Rich Graessle

No. 5 Men’s Lacrosse Earns Multiple Conference Accolades

Apr 30 | Men's Lacrosse

Video: Colin Kirst, Specialist of the Year Video: Shane Knobloch, Freshman of the Year Video: Brian Brecht, Coach of the Year Full Big Ten Release

Colin Kirst: Specialist of the Year, Shane Knobloch: Freshman of the Year, Brian Brecht: Coach of the Year; Six All-Big Ten Selections (Three First Team, Three Second Team)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse was well recognized on Friday with a record number of Big Ten all-conference awards. The Scarlet Knights won three of the five major awards from the conference, as Colin Kirst was named Big Ten Specialist of the Year, Shane Knobloch was named Big Ten Freshman of the year and Brian Brecht was named Coach of the Year. Additionally, the team had three student-athletes named First Team All-Big Ten: Adam Charalambides, Connor Kirst and Colin Kirst. Three Scarlet Knights were also named Second Team All-Big Ten: Jaryd Jean-Felix, Kieran Mullins and Ethan Rall. Ryan Gallagher earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

"I am very proud of our student-athletes for earning these well-deserved postseason honors," head coach Brian Brecht said. "They have all been a big part of our success this season. We have great captains and a senior class that have provided us exceptional leadership through the year. I am very fortunate to have an excellent staff with Eric Seremet, Jimmy Ryan and Peter Dolan who have been a big part of our team's success. The chemistry in the office, on the field, and in the locker room this year has been outstanding. These awards are great recognition of what our team achieved this season. Since returning to campus in the fall, this entire group has sacrificed a lot, while being very dedicated and focused on helping our team achieve our goals. I am very proud of what has been accomplished so far and am looking forward to seeing what our team can continue to accomplish as we enter the postseason."

Brian Brecht was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second time, having also earned the accolade in 2016. After the Scarlet Knights were pegged to finish fourth in the league in the Preseason Coaches Poll, Brecht guided RU to an 8-2 record in the conference-only scheduled and a second-place finish, earning the No. 2 seed and a bye in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers earned three wins over teams that were ranked during the regular season, opening the season with a pair of wins over teams ranked No. 6 in the nation (Penn State and Ohio State) and later topping then-No. 14 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights completed home-and-home sweeps over Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan and Johns Hopkins. Rutgers' 8-2 record through the regular season marked the first time that RU had less than three losses in the regular season since 1982, while the team's .800 conference winning percentage was the program's best mark since joining the Big Ten. This is the fifth time in his collegiate coaching career that he has been named the conference Coach of the Year.

Colin Kirst was the third Scarlet Knight to ever win Specialist of the Year, joining Joe Nardella (2015) and Max Edelmann (2019). The Bernardsville, N.J. native excelled between the pipes in his first season 'On the Banks', as he boasted a .551 save percentage and 11.28 goals-against average. He led the Big Ten with 13.4 saves per game and in save percentage. Kirst was named the Big Ten Specialist of the Week four times during the season. He had double-digit saves in nine of 10 games, had at least 15 saves five times, and twice tied a career-high with 19 saves in a game. Kirst also had 25 ground balls and caused six turnovers. The First Team All-Big Ten selection was the first of his career.

Shane Knobloch is the second Scarlet Knights to ever win Big Ten Freshman of the Year, joining teammate Adam Charalambides (2016). The Moorestown, N.J. native made an instant impact as a newcomer, starting every game as a midfielder. Knobloch scored 15 goals and had five assists for 20 points with eight ground balls, recording five multi-goal games in his first six collegiate games. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times and was recognized by Inside Lacrosse as a Midseason All-American.

Adam Charalambides was a unanimous First Team selection, being named First Team All-Big Ten for the second time in his career, previously earning the recognition in 2019. The graduate student attackman leads Rutgers with 35 goals and 50 points on the season. The Georgetown, Ontario native has a career-best 15 assists on the season. Ranking second in the Big Ten in goals (3.5) and points (5.0) per game, he has scored multiple goals in nine of 10 games, had at least three goals eight times, and at least four goals in five different games. He was recognized by Inside Lacrosse as a Midseason All-American and is one of 25 finalists for the Tewaaraton Award. For his career, he has scored 140 goals, fourth all-time in program history. He is 10^th all-time at Rutgers with 190 points.

Connor Kirst earns unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honors in his first season as a Scarlet Knight. The Bernardsville, N.J. native has scored 30 goals and added 15 assists for his home state school, while also grabbing 22 ground balls and causing seven turnovers. He ranks in the top-five in the Big Ten in goals, assists and points per game. He was named a First Team Preseason All-American by multiple publications and surpassed 100 career goals this season. A First Round draft pick (seventh overall) by the Whipsnakes in this week's PLL College Draft, he is one of 25 finalists for the Tewaaraton Award.

Jaryd Jean-Felix was named Second Team All-Big Ten, the first all-conference accolades of his career. The team's top defenseman, Jean-Felix has excelled all season in shutting down the opposition's top attacking threats. The Cumming, Ga. native had career-highs with 19 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he helped RU lead the conference in caused turnovers per game (8.1) and boast the best clearing percentage and second-best scoring defense in the Big Ten.

Kieran Mullins was recognized as Second Team All-Big Ten, earning all-conference honors for the third time in his career after previously being named First Team in 2019 and Second Team in 2017. The redshirt senior returned to RU for one additional season of eligibility and excelled, posting 24 goals and a team-best 18 assists for 42 points. The Islip, N.Y. native ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 1.8 assists per game, fifth in points (4.5) and eighth in goals (2.4). For his career, Mullins is second all-time in Rutgers history with 221 points, while also placing eighth in program history in both goals (123) and assists (98). He is two assists away from becoming the first player in program history to reach both 100 career goals and 100 career assists.

Ethan Rall was named Second Team, the first all-conference accolades of his career. The junior was the lone long-stick midfielder in the league to be recognized as all-conference. The Islip, N.Y. native had a career-high 21 ground balls while causing 11 turnovers, also adding a goal and an assist. Rall helped the Scarlet Knights in all areas of the field, locking down the opponent's top midfielder while also sparking the team's clearing game.

Ryan Gallagher earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, which recognizes individuals who distinguish themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The senior is a four-year starter for RU, starting every game this season at midfield. The Atlanta, Ga. native scored six goals and posted four assists with 10 ground balls. A team captain, Gallagher is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and two-time SAAC VP for Career and Employer Relations.

The three first team selections were tied for the most First Team All-Big Ten selections in program history (2019). The six total all-conference selections were a program record. It was the second time that RU had won three major awards in one season (2016: Coach, Offensive Player, Freshman).

Rutgers is the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Scarlet Knights will play in the Big Ten Semifinals, next Thursday, May 6. The game, hosted by Penn State against the winner of this Saturday's game between Penn State and Johns Hopkins, will air at 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.