PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse redshirt freshman Haydn Sommer was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the Big Ten Conference announced on Tuesday. Sommer had a breakout game in a road win over No. 11 Johns Hopkins, leading the team with three goals and adding an assist for four points.

Sommer entered the game with two goals in his first nine collegiate games, notching his first multi-goal game with the hat trick. He matched the most points of any Big Ten player on the week and had the most goals of any player on a winning Big Ten team.

A native of Cypress, Texas via Culver Military Academy, Sommer is in his second season on campus. He did not see game action in 2024 due to injury and was awarded a redshirt season.

Sommer has come into his own over recent games. Through the first seven games, he had just four points (two goals, two assists). Against St. John's on March 11, he notched a career-best three assists. He joined the starting lineup on the first midfield line for the UMass game on March 15, picking up an assist, then had four points against Johns Hopkins.

The Scarlet Knights' win over No. 11 Johns Hopkins was the highest ranked road win for Rutgers since February of 2021, the highest ranked conference win since March 27, 2022 (vs. No. 8/9 Ohio State) and the highest ranked win for RU overall since Feb. 25, 2023 (vs. No. 5 Loyola).

This marks the third Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade this year by a Scarlet Knight. Previously, true freshman attackman JJ Aiello was twice named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Rutgers next four opponents are ranked in this week's polls as RU continues Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights play at No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G+.