PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse midfielder Joe Juengerkes was named to the USILA's initial "Team of the Week" for the 2025 season. The award recognized the Scarlet Knight captain's performance in the season opening victory at No. 20 Lehigh. 

The Islip, N.Y. native excelled on the field at both ends in the win at the No. 20 Mountain Hawks with three ground balls, two caused turnovers and one goal. Behind his efforts, Rutgers held Lehigh to just six goals, including only two goals in the final 38 minutes of the game. It marked the fewest goals in a game for Lehigh since Feb. 25, 2023, a 29- game span.

The transfer from Princeton, who was named a captain in the preseason, has made an immediate impact as a short-stick defensive midfielder. The graduate student added two ground balls and a caused turnover in the Scarlet Knights' 17-3 win over LIU on Tuesday. He now has three caused turnovers on the season and has boosted a defensive effort for RU that has seen them allow just 4.5 goals per game in the initial two contests. 

The Scarlet Knights are No. 19 in the USILA Coaches Poll, No. 20 in the Media and USA Lacrosse Magazine Polls, and are 2-0 for the 10th straight season. Another home game is up next, with RU hosting Stony Brook at 1 p.m. this Saturday.