Kirst, Nardella, Heningburg Named PLL All-Stars
Jul 09 | Men's Lacrosse
Trio will represent RU in the contest in Louisville on July 13
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers alumns Joe Nardella, Colin Kirst and Jules Heningburg were named as all-stars in the professional ranks as the Premier Lacrosse League unveiled its 2024 squad. The trio is set to compete for the East Team during the league's All-Star Game and Skills Competition in Louisville this Saturday, July 13, at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium at the University of Louisville, airing on ESPN and ESPN+. The event starts with the skills challenge at 1:15 with the game starting at 3 pm on ESPN. Heningburg will compete in the 'Air Gait' Challenge, while Kirst will compete in the goalkeeper challenge.
Kirst is making his second straight appearance in cage at the All-Star game. In six games this season, he has a save percentage of 54%, making 76 saves, and also collecting 14 ground balls. With him in cage, Boston is second in the league with four wins. In 19 career pro games with the Cannons over the past three seasons, he has made 224 saves and collected 39 ground balls.
At Rutgers, Kirst excelled across two seasons as he led RU to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022. He was a two-time All-American, reaching as high as Second Team, was a Scholar All-American, and was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection in addition to being named the 2021 Big Ten Specialist of the Year.
Nardella will participate in the pro all-star game for the fifth time in his 10-year professional career. After missing the past summer's outdoor season, Nardella has returned to top form this season, and currently leads the league with a 70.4% winning percentage at the 'X'. He is also second with 56 ground balls. Nardella is 81-of-115 on faceoffs this season for the Whipsnakes, also adding one goal. He boasts a 59% winning percentage across 86 career games, taking over 2200 faceoffs, with 35 career goals, 32 assists and 705 ground balls.
At Rutgers, Nardella was a Third Team All-American, Big Ten Specialist of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 to cap his career 'On the Banks' in the program's first season in the conference. The Cazenovia, N.Y. native was a three-time all-conference selection at RU.
Heningburg, making his fourth all-star game appearance, joined the Carolina Chaos this offseason as a free agent. Through five games, he has scored seven goals with three assists and four ground balls, highlighted by four goals on June 7 against the Redwoods. Added to the all-star game as an injury replacement on Wednesday, the Maplewood, N.J. native has played in 57 career professional lacrosse games, posting 137 points on 86 goals and 51 assists.
At Rutgers, Heningburg finished his RU career second all-time in points with 207, also ranking in the top-ten in program history in goals (117) and assists (90). A two-time All-American and two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, he originally entered pro lacrosse as a First Round draft pick of the MLL's Florida Launch.
Midseason Pros Update
Nardella, Kirst and Heninburg represent three of the 10 Scarlet Knights to have suited up for PLL teams this season, with 11 overall on rosters. Let's check in on the other Scarlet Knights in the pros.
Carolina Chaos: Jules Heningburg, Shane Knobloch, Ross Scott
Shane Knobloch was the highest drafted RU PLL player ever as Carolina took him fourth overall. The midfielder has three goals and one assist with three ground balls through five games.
Ross Scott was a third-round draft pick by the Chaos. The rookie has six goals and an assist in five games.
Boston Cannons: Colin Kirst, Connor Kirst, Ethan Rall, Adam Charalambides
Joining his all-star brother on the Cannons, Connor Kirst has produced five goals, three assists and seven ground balls in six games. His five goals this season are just one shy of his previous career-high of six.
Rall has followed up a breakout rookie season in the league with a strong sophomore campaign. The long-stick midfielder has 14 ground balls and two caused turnovers in six games.
Charalambides is yet to see game action in the PLL this season after setting career-bests over the winter in the NLL with the Vancouver Warriors (37 Goals, 61 Assists).
New York Atlas: Michael Rexrode, Ronan Jacoby
In his seventh professional season that included an all-star appearance in 2021, the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has eight caused turnovers and six ground balls through six games.
Playing in the summer season for the first time after making his pro debut in February's Champ Series, Jacoby has seen action in five games at midfielder, with five points on two goals and three assists.
Philadelphia Waterdogs: Christian Scarpello
Scarpello is in his fourth season as a defensive midfielder for the Waterdogs. This year, he has nine ground balls and two caused turnovers in five games.
Kirst is making his second straight appearance in cage at the All-Star game. In six games this season, he has a save percentage of 54%, making 76 saves, and also collecting 14 ground balls. With him in cage, Boston is second in the league with four wins. In 19 career pro games with the Cannons over the past three seasons, he has made 224 saves and collected 39 ground balls.
At Rutgers, Kirst excelled across two seasons as he led RU to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022. He was a two-time All-American, reaching as high as Second Team, was a Scholar All-American, and was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection in addition to being named the 2021 Big Ten Specialist of the Year.
Nardella will participate in the pro all-star game for the fifth time in his 10-year professional career. After missing the past summer's outdoor season, Nardella has returned to top form this season, and currently leads the league with a 70.4% winning percentage at the 'X'. He is also second with 56 ground balls. Nardella is 81-of-115 on faceoffs this season for the Whipsnakes, also adding one goal. He boasts a 59% winning percentage across 86 career games, taking over 2200 faceoffs, with 35 career goals, 32 assists and 705 ground balls.
At Rutgers, Nardella was a Third Team All-American, Big Ten Specialist of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 to cap his career 'On the Banks' in the program's first season in the conference. The Cazenovia, N.Y. native was a three-time all-conference selection at RU.
Heningburg, making his fourth all-star game appearance, joined the Carolina Chaos this offseason as a free agent. Through five games, he has scored seven goals with three assists and four ground balls, highlighted by four goals on June 7 against the Redwoods. Added to the all-star game as an injury replacement on Wednesday, the Maplewood, N.J. native has played in 57 career professional lacrosse games, posting 137 points on 86 goals and 51 assists.
At Rutgers, Heningburg finished his RU career second all-time in points with 207, also ranking in the top-ten in program history in goals (117) and assists (90). A two-time All-American and two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, he originally entered pro lacrosse as a First Round draft pick of the MLL's Florida Launch.
Midseason Pros Update
Nardella, Kirst and Heninburg represent three of the 10 Scarlet Knights to have suited up for PLL teams this season, with 11 overall on rosters. Let's check in on the other Scarlet Knights in the pros.
Carolina Chaos: Jules Heningburg, Shane Knobloch, Ross Scott
Shane Knobloch was the highest drafted RU PLL player ever as Carolina took him fourth overall. The midfielder has three goals and one assist with three ground balls through five games.
Ross Scott was a third-round draft pick by the Chaos. The rookie has six goals and an assist in five games.
Boston Cannons: Colin Kirst, Connor Kirst, Ethan Rall, Adam Charalambides
Joining his all-star brother on the Cannons, Connor Kirst has produced five goals, three assists and seven ground balls in six games. His five goals this season are just one shy of his previous career-high of six.
Rall has followed up a breakout rookie season in the league with a strong sophomore campaign. The long-stick midfielder has 14 ground balls and two caused turnovers in six games.
Charalambides is yet to see game action in the PLL this season after setting career-bests over the winter in the NLL with the Vancouver Warriors (37 Goals, 61 Assists).
New York Atlas: Michael Rexrode, Ronan Jacoby
In his seventh professional season that included an all-star appearance in 2021, the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has eight caused turnovers and six ground balls through six games.
Playing in the summer season for the first time after making his pro debut in February's Champ Series, Jacoby has seen action in five games at midfielder, with five points on two goals and three assists.
Philadelphia Waterdogs: Christian Scarpello
Scarpello is in his fourth season as a defensive midfielder for the Waterdogs. This year, he has nine ground balls and two caused turnovers in five games.
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