PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Two Rutgers men's lacrosse products were named to USA Lacrosse's 23-player active roster to represent the United States in the World Lacrosse Box Championships. Connor Kirst and Joe Nardella were selected for the event, which will take place on Sept. 20-29 in Utica, N.Y.

Kirst was a Third Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2021 in his lone year at RU. The Bernardsville, N.J. native as a Scholar All-American who posted 37 goals and 53 points in leading RU to the NCAA Tournament. In indoor pro lacrosse, Kirst has played in 36 games over the past two seasons with the Georgia Swarm and Las Vegas Desert Dogs, scoring 12 goals with 18 assists and scooping 185 loose balls off 128 faceoff wins. He is excelling in outdoor pro lacrosse currently with the Boston Cannons, with 12 goals and two assists with 15 ground balls in nine games.

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. Nardella has played in 30 games since 2020 in the NLL with the New England Blackwolves and Albany Firewolves, winning 469-of-740 faceoffs and collecting 238 loose balls and three goals with 10 assists. This season in the PLL with the Whipsnakes, he has won 67 percent of faceoffs (leading the league) along with 93 ground balls and five goals

The U.S. men have won the bronze medal at each of the previous five world championships, most recently in 2019. A total of 28 men's teams are competing for the world championship. Rutgers is one of just five schools to be represented by multiple players on the roster.

"We couldn't be more excited about the prospects for this group," said head coach Regy Thorpe, who has previously played and coached for the U.S. in this championship. "The U.S. player pool has grown every year and that made for some really difficult decisions, especially for those last few roster spots. We've had great teams in the past, but haven't had the depth position wise. This year, especially in the defensive and transition areas of the field, it was really deep and competitive. We love this group of guys."