Men’s Lacrosse: 2024 In Review

Jun 19 | Men's Lacrosse

The Scarlet Knights opened up the season with a 6-2 record through nonconference play. RU opened the season against Lehigh on February 3, taking down a Mountain Hawks squad that would go on to win the Patriot League Tournament and qualify for the NCAA Tournament, by a final score of 14-12.

The Scarlet Knights also claimed wins over a trio of annual contenders in games at Stony Brook (16-12), at Loyola (13-5) and against Hofstra (13-8). The road win at Loyola, who had been ranked in No. 12 nationally just two weeks before, saw RU goalkeeper Cardin Stoller emerge with a save percentage (75%) that was the best for RU since 2022 and fewest goals allowed since 2019.

In a 17-5 win over Detroit Mercy, RU had 11 goal scorers, including three posting their first collegiate goal. The team concluded its non-conference slate with a neutral site matchup on Long Island, traveling to take on UMass in Farmingdale. A close game throughout, Stoller had 19 saves, and made a stop on the final possession to insure the 10-9 win.

Apr 7, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; During the game between Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Michigan Wolverines at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. Credit: Tim Fuller-Rutgers

Cardin Stoller Apr 7, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; During the game between Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Michigan Wolverines at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. Credit: Tim Fuller-Rutgers

Big Ten play was highlighted by a great performance in Ann Arbor, as the Scarlet Knights claimed a 9-7 road win at No. 15 Michigan. The top ranked win of the season saw another 19-save performance from Stoller and four point days from Shane Knobloch and Ross Scott, as the Scarlet Knights extended their winning streak over the Wolverines to nine games, the longest winning streak over any Big Ten foe.

Overall, RU claimed two wins over NCAA Tournament teams (Michigan and Lehigh), and saw their average loss come to teams with an RPI of 10. The Scarlet Knights had five of their seven losses come to top-10 RPI teams at the end of the season, and another come to a team that reached No. 1 in the polls just two weeks later, with five losses to NCAA Tournament teams.

Rutgers finished the season as the nation’s leader with the fewest turnovers per game, placing number one nationally at 13.29 per game. The program has made this statistic a hallmark, as RU has been number one in the country for three straight seasons and finished in the top-seven nationally in each of the past six seasons.

Over the past three full seasons since returning from the shortened 2020 campaign, RU is 39-21. In that time, the Scarlet Knights claimed 14 ranked wins. RU has 37 ranked wins since 2003, and 27 of them have come since 2012 under head coach Brian Brecht.

INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS

Individual Standouts

Senior Midfielder Shane Knobloch (29 Goals, 11 Assists)

Knobloch became the first winner of the McLaughlin Award in program history, the first Rutgers player to earn one of these accolades since Reid Jackson claimed the William C. Schmeisser Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1994, and the third all-time, joining Jack Daut, who won the Jack Turnbull Award for the nation's top attackman in 1957.He becomes just the second four-time All-American in program history, joining Tom Sweeney (1977-1980).

Graduate Student Attackman Ross Scott (20 Goals, 25 Assists)

Scott finished his five-year career ‘On the Banks’ as a three-time All-American and three-time all-Big Ten selection. His 109 goals and 182 points place him in the top-12 all-time in program history in both statistical categories.

Redshirt Freshman Goalkeeper Cardin Stoller (54.1 Save Percentage, 11.24 Goals-Against-Average, 173 Saves)

Stoller was the third Scarlet Knight to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year since RU became part of the league in 2015, joining teammate Shane Knobloch (2021) and Adam Charalambides (2016). Stoller is the eighth Rutgers' student-athlete to earn a major award from the Big Ten since 2015

Freshman Midfielder Colin Kurdyla (20 Goals, 10 Assists)

Kurdyla emerged as an offensive threat as a true freshman with six multi-goal games, and was ranked No. 17 on the Inside Lacrosse True Freshman Rankings to end the season.

Sophomore long-stick midfielder Ryan Splaine (40 Ground Balls, 16 Caused Turnovers)

Excelled in taking over the top long-stick midfield spot

Junior defenseman Tommy Mendyke (20 Ground Balls, 12 Caused Turnovers

First time starter led the newly formed close defense unit and earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

SEASON AWARDS

All-Americans (USILA)

Shane Knobloch: First Team
Ross Scott: Honorable Mention

Knobloch: Lt. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Outstanding Midfielder of the Year Award

Knobloch was also a First All-American by Inside Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse Magazine and the Lacrosse Network.

All-Big Ten

Shane Knobloch: First Team
Ross Scott: First Team
Cardin Stoller: Freshman of the Year
Tommy Mendyke: Sportsmanship Award

Rutgers has now had multiple First Team All-Big Ten players in five of the past six seasons.

USILA Senior All-Star Game

Brandon Hund

All-ECAC

Shane Knobloch: First Team

Tewaaraton Award Watch List

Ross Scott, Shane Knobloch

USILA Scholar All-American

Brandon Hund, Shane Knobloch, Ross Scott

Academic All-Big Ten

Jack Aimone, Zak Conley, Jack Crosby, Liam Gray, LaJhon Jones Jr., Shane Knobloch, Brady Kurdyla, Justin Lawler, Tommy Mendyke, Shane Murphy, Logan Peters, Mason Rickens, Brian Russo, Ross Scott, Ryan Splaine, Nick Teresky, Kyle Tietjen, Zach Walsh

Big Ten Distinguished Scholar

Liam Gray, Justin Lawler, Logan Peters, Brian Russo, Ross Scott, Nick Teresky

Weekly Awards

Cardin Stoller:

Four-Time Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Two-Time Big Ten Specialist of the Week
USA Lacrosse Magazine Division I National Player of the Week (March 19)
USILA Team of the Week (Feb. 27)

Colin Kurdyla

Two-Time Freshman of the Week

Ross Scott

USILA Team of the Week (Feb. 6)

Tommy Mendyke

USILA Team of the Week (Feb. 13)

Ryan Splaine

USILA Team of the Week (March 20)

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