PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse saw eight former Scarlet Knights with Premier Lacrosse League teams this season as the PLL recently wrapped up its third season. Joe Nardella and Connor Kirst (Whipsnakes), Christian Mazzone and Christian Scarpello (Waterdogs), Michael Rexrode and Kyle Pless (Atlas), Jules Heningburg (Redwoods) and Adam Charalambides (Cannons) represented RU at the next level this season. 

Joe Nardella and Connor Kirst teamed up on the Whipsnakes, the two RU alumns to advanced furthest in the playoffs, reaching Sunday's PLL title game. Nardella continues to prove himself as one of the top faceoff men in the world. Nardella was 176-of-304 overall at the 'X' for a 57.8% winning poercentage, while also scooping 94 ground balls and posting two goals and six assists. He ranked third in the league in faceoff percentage and ground balls. Kirst saw his first season of action in the PLL after being drafted in the First Round (7th overall). He played in eight games overall, scoring four goals from the midfield. 

Those Whipsnakes took out a pair of former RU teammates in the Semfinals, with Christian Scarpello and Christian Mazzone representing the league's top-seeded Waterdogs. Scarpello saw seven games of action in his debut season in the PLL as a short-stick defensive midfielder, posting nine ground balls. Christian Mazzone joined the Waterdogs late in the year after starting the season with the Archers, and scored three goals and had two assists with six ground balls in four games of action. 

Michael Rexrode broke through as one of the league's top defensemen after two highly successful MLL seasons. Rexrode played in 11 games for the Atlas, causing 18 turnovers and collecting 19 ground balls. He was named to the PLL Second Team by Inside Lacrosse, finishing the regular season tied for sixth in caused turnovers and earning a PLL Defender of the Week accolade after shutting down Lyle Thompson. Alongside him with the Atlas was former teammate with both the Scarlet Knights and Denver Outlaws, Kyle Pless. Playing in six regular season games, Pless had eight ground balls and caused five turnovers. 

Heningburg re-jonined the Redwoods for this season as a midfielder, playing in 10 games, scoring 18 goals and adding five assists. He posted four hat tricks, including one in the playoffs, and has 90 career points (58 goals and 32 assists) in 31 PLL games.  

Charalambides was picked up by the Cannons in August ahead of the playoffs. He was also drafted in the First Round of the NLL Draft this year by the Vancouver Warriors, giving RU a First Round selection in both professional lacrosse drafts this year. 

The eight alumns represent 9 All-American selections while at RU. The group also combined for 12 all-conference selections while Scarlet Knights, including three Big Ten Player of the Year awards. 

Three of these alumns will next play with Team USA. Jules Heningburg, Joe Nardella and Michael Rexrode were all named to the U.S. squad for the Fall Classic Scrimmage Series, which will take place in October. All three were named PLL All-Stars this year. 

Rutgers men's lacrosse boasts a total of 37 alumni all-time between Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). This success placing players in the pros has been accelerated recently, with 24 alumni coached at RU by current head coach Brian Brecht to go on to the professional level.