PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 16 Rutgers men's lacrosse was in complete control throughout, dominating Detroit Mercy, 17-5, in the team's lone midweek game of the season. The Scarlet Knights had 11 different goal scorers in the game. Rutgers, who outshot the Titans 53-26 for the game, took a 12-1 lead into halftime and never looked back, using the second half to give the team's younger players an opportunity to get in a game. Overall, 42 Scarlet Knights saw game action.
"I trust the way our guys prepare in practice and our coaches do a great job developing our guys," head coach
Brian Brecht explained. "It was nice to be able to get a lot of different guys into the game and have the standard stay the same and the way we like to compete offensively and defensively. We have to get better each day and this game was an opportunity for our whole program to grow."
Tanyr Krummenacher led the team with three goals.
Nick Teresky,
James Ringer,
John Sidorski and
Connor McDonough all scored twice.
Colin Kurdyla,
Ross Scott,
Jack Aimone,
Shane Knobloch,
Zach Walsh and
David Carroll all tallied once apiece.
The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 5-1 lead after one quarter, and then outscored the Titans 7-0 in the second quarter behind their starting lineup. Rutgers then made wholesale lineup substitutions to start the second half. RU outscored Detroit 5-4 after halftime.
Connor McDonough (two goals),
David Carroll and
Zach Walsh all scored their first collegiate goal. Duke Richman had his first collegiate assist. Nine players made their first appearance in a Scarlet Knight uniform.
Rutgers was 15-of-26 on faceoffs with three different players (
Cole Brams,
Matt Soutar and Brock Desmaris) rotating. RU was 22-of-23 on clears and made nine saves (64.3% save percentage as a team), with eight caused turnovers.
With the win, the Scarlet Knights improve to 20-3 in non-conference play at home over the past three seasons, and 16-2 at home in that span. Rutgers improves to 5-1 to start the season for the second consecutive season, and marks the third straight year with at least five wins in its first six games.
This was the second game this season RU held an opponent to just five goals. Rutgers has now outscored opponents 80-58 on the season.
Up next, Rutgers hosts No. 14/15 Princeton this Sunday at noon. It will be the 101st meeting between the two schools, the most played series for the program. The in-state rivalry is contested for the Tots Meistrell Cup.
