PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Three players from Rutgers' men's lacrosse were named Preseason Players to Watch by the Big Ten Conference. Colin Kurdyla, Tommy Mendyke and Cardin Stoller earned the honor.

Kurdyla had a breakout freshman campaign last season. A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, he scored 20 goals and had 10 assists. Ranking No. 17 on the Inside Lacrosse True Freshman rankings, the Bridgewater, N.J. native was also named to the training team for the Team USA U-20 National Team. Kurdyla is the team's leading returner in goals, assists and points.

Mendyke enters his fourth season as a Scarlet Knight. A native of Eden Prairie, he became a full-time starter last season in all 14 games, collecting 20 ground balls and placing second on the team in caused turnovers with 12. He also earned placement to the USILA Team of the Week last season. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Mendyke was the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner last season. Over his career, he's played in 30 career games.

Stoller excelled in his first season as the Scarlet Knights' netminder this past season. The Owings Mills, Md. native was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season and the Rutgers Athletics Male Freshman of the Year. Stoller posted a 54.1% save percentage and 11.24 goals-against average. He made 173 saves, with five games of at least 15 stops, including two 19 save performances (wins over UMass and Michigan). Stoller was second in the Big Ten in save percentage among returning goalkeepers to the league.

Stoller and Kurdyla represent two of the three underclassmen on the preseason Players to Watch list.

The 2025 season begins this weekend. The Scarlet Knights hit the road to take on Lehigh on Saturday at noon, with a stream on ESPN+.