ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 7 Rutgers men's lacrosse tied a program record for wins, improving to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten after earning a 13-12 road win at Michigan. Ronan Jacoby led RU with three goals, including the game-winning tally with under four minutes to play. 

Six different players scored multiple goals for RU, led by the hat trick from Jacoby, while goalkeeper Colin Kirst made 15 saves. Brian Cameron, Ryan Gallagher, Shane Knobloch, Mitch Bartolo and Jack Aimone all had two tallies to add to the RU offense. Ryan Gallagher also had two assists, leading the team with a season-best four points.

After Michigan scored the first goal of the game, Rutgers answered with the next six goals. RU led as much as 9-3 and was up 11-6 heading into the fourth quarter. A late Michigan push saw the game tied at 11-11 and 12-12. Ronan Jacoby scored with 3:41 to play to put RU ahead 13-12.  The Scarlet Knight defense would hold off the pesky Wolverines from there to ensure the victory.

Game Summary

The early going was low scoring. Michigan tallied first, but then RU got going and answered back with the final four goals of the first quarter.

It started with a strong setup from captain Ryan Gallagher, who fed Brian Cameron in front for a 1-1 tie halfway through the first quarter. Just over a minute later, Gallagher would have the finish of a Shane Knobloch pass that gave RU its first lead of the day.

Jack Aimone had a strong individual take to make it three straight goals from the midfield, then in the waning seconds of the opening period, Bryant Boswell and Bobby Russo teamed up for a defensive stand and caused turnover, and then Brian Cameron finished off the quarter a goal with 1.3 seconds remaining.

In the second quarter, Aimone and Gallagher continued the RU scoring streak. Michigan got back within 6-2, but Shane Knobloch and Ronan Jacoby shortly answered with goals. At halftime, Rutgers led 8-3.

Six of the eight goals came from the midfield, with Gallagher producing a four-point half (two goals, two assists) that set a new season-high. Gallagher, Cameron and Aimone all had two goals in the first half.

Mitch Bartolo started the scoring in the second half, but Michigan answered back with two pole goals. A 3-0 Michigan run got them within 9-6, but then Bartolo fired home another laser to snap that streak. Ronan Jacoby followed by putting up RU 11-6 at the end of the third quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, Michigan snapped off a 5-0 run to tie the game at 11-11. Shane Knobloch finally snapped that streak, finding the back of the net with a lefthanded shot from in tight to put RU back ahead, 12-11, with 8:50 to play.

Michigan tied the game at 12-12, then Ronan Jacoby completed a hat trick with 3:41 to play for a 13-12 RU lead. That would be the last goal of the game, as RU's defense held off the Wolverines on the game's final possession to earn the one-goal win.

Rutgers' victory, combined with wins Saturday by Maryland and Johns Hopkins, ensures the Scarlet Knights will be the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and clinch a bye in the first round, advancing directly to the May 5 semifinals. Rutgers stands alone in second place at 3-1 in conference play, with Ohio State and Johns Hopkins in a tie at third place at 2-2. With head-to-head wins over the Buckeyes and Blue Jays, RU holds all tiebreakers on the No. 2 spot. The team could also earn a share of the Big Ten regular season title next weekend with a win and a Maryland loss. 

The Scarlet Knights finish the regular season next Saturday, April 23. RU will host Penn State at 4 p.m., a Big Ten Network broadcast. The game will be Senior Day, with ceremonies postgame. It will also be Alumni Appreciation Day, as RU will welcome back its 1972 and 1992 teams, along with all Rutgers Hall of Famers.

The program will also host a 'Celebration of Life' event for former head coach Tom Hayes. Any alumni wishing to attend that pregame festivity must pre-register at www.scarletknights.com/TomHayes.
 
Postgame Notes

With the win:

• Rutgers' earned its 11^th win of the season, tying the program record for wins in a season (previously done in 1986 and 2016).
• Brian Brecht collected his 80^th win as Rutgers' head coach
• Rutgers notched its seventh straight win over Michigan, its most wins over any Big Ten team since joining the conference in 2015.

Individuals

• Ronan Jacoby had his third game this season with a hat trick or better.
• Ryan Gallagher had a season-high three points and tied his season-high with two goals.
• Jack Aimone tied his career-high of two goals.
• Mitch Bartolo had his 10^th multi-goal game of the season.
• Brian Cameron had his eighth multi-goal game of the season.
• Colin Kirst had his seventh game this season of at least 12 saves.
• Shane Knobloch had his fifth straight multi-goal game.
• Ethan Rall had his 24^th caused turnover of the season, tying Kyle Pless (2019) and Nick Contino (2013, 2012) for the most caused turnovers in a single season since the program began tracking the statistic in 2006.