PISCATAWAY, N.J. — No. 6/7 Rutgers men's lacrosse hosts in-state rival No. 13/14 Princeton on Sat., March 11 at 1 p.m. at SHI Stadium to battle for the Tots Meistrell Cup. This matchup will mark the 100th lifetime meeting of the Scarlet Knights and Tigers in a series that started in 1922, and has been played every year except a two-year pause during World War II and the conference-only schedule of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Dom Savino and Rick Mercurio will have the call on B1G+. Military Appreciation Day will be celebrated on Saturday at SHI Stadium. A camouflage Rutgers lacrosse cap giveaway will take place while supplies last.
 
ABOUT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

• Rutgers is riding a three-game win streak entering Saturday's matchup. The Scarlet Knights have earned victories over No. 5 Loyola, St. John's, and Utah in the first three contests of a four-game homestand.
• RU battled to an 18-14 win over Utah last weekend. Brian Cameron and Dante Kulas led the way, netting four goals apiece. The pair is currently second (17) and third (16) on the team in goals scored this spring.
• Kulas has taken efficient shots this spring. The sophomore is shooting 0.516 percent, good for second in the Big Ten and 13th in the country.
• Ross Scott added six points (three goals, three assists) to his team-leading total of 26 points (19 goals, seven assists) in the win. The senior has three performances with six or more points in the last four contests. He is first in the Big Ten and 21st in the nation with 3.17 goals per game.
• Goalkeeper Kyle Mullin has made six starts in the net for RU, recording 66 saves. His 0.550 save percentage ranks second in the conference and 15th nationally. The senior transfer has allowed only 9.49 goals per game, leading the Big Ten and ranking 13th in the country His 11.00 saves per game ranks third in the conference.
• RU has excelled in third quarters this spring, outscoring opponents, 28-8, through six games. Over the last three contests, RU is outscoring opponents 18-1, in the third quarter.
• The Scarlet Knights have been strong on both sides of the ball. The team's scoring margin of 6.17 leads the conference, and is ranked seventh nationally. RU ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring defense (9.17) and second in scoring offense (15.33).
• Rutgers has found success at the X this spring. The team's 0.584 faceoff percentage is third in the Big Ten. Jonathan Dugenio is 57-93 (0.613) and Joe Neuman is 37-64 (0.578). The duo ranks third and fourth in the conference, respectively.
• RU is leading the conference and ranks fourth in the nation with only 12.67 turnovers per game.

MILESTONE WATCH

• Ethan Rall is second all-time in caused turnovers with 71 in his career. The senior is 13 away from tying the program record that belongs to Nick Contino (2011-14), who had 84 as a Scarlet Knight.
• Brian Cameron is 11 goals away from reaching 100 for his career. He scored 38 with UNC and 51 with Rutgers.
• Ross Scott is 17 goals away from reaching 100 for his career.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Princeton enters Saturday with a 2-2 record through its first four games, earning victories over Monmouth and Manhattan. The Tigers fell to Maryland and Georgetown in their last two contests. This weekend will be PU's first time away from Sherred Field as the Tigers have hosted all four of their contests this spring. Princeton is coming off a 2022 campaign where it went 11-5, and reached the NCAA Final Four. The Tigers fell in the national semifinal to eventual national champion Maryland, 13-8.
 
The Tigers' offense is led by attackman Coulter Mackesy. The sophomore has a team-leading 18 points (15 goals, three assists). A season ago he totaled the fourth highest point total for a Princeton freshman (42). Princeton's attack also features Alexandra Vardaro, who has 13 points (nine goals, four assists), and Braedon Saris, who has 10 points (four goals, six assists).
 
Goalkeeper Griffen Rakower has started all four games in the net for PU. The senior has recorded 36 saves and a 0.667 save percentage. He's averaging 9.00 goals against per game. The Tigers have switched goalies at halftime in each of their first four games, entering Michael Gianforcaro into the net for the last 24 minutes of each contest. He has collected 21 saves and has a 0.477 save percentage.
 
Prior to the season, Princeton had two players named to the Tewaaraton Award watchlist, defenseman Pace Billings and midfielder Sam English. Midfielder Jake Steven was named a preseason second-team All American and SSDM Beau Pederson was named a preseason first-team All American.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Saturday will be the 100th lifetime meeting between the two programs, the seventh longest contested series in the NCAA as it dates back to 1922. The Scarlet Knights have faced the Tigers in every season since 1922, with the exception of 1944 and 1945 for World War II and the 2021 season, when teams only faced their conference opponents. The contest's winner will receive year-long rights to the Meistrell Cup, named in honor of U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Famer Harland (Tots) Meistrell, who restarted the lacrosse programs at both schools in the early 1920s. Princeton has the advantage in the series, claiming 65 wins in their teams' 99 matchups. The Scarlet Knights are 31-65-3 all-time against their in-state rival. Rutgers has defeated PU at home the last two times the contest was held in Piscataway.