PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse had four student-athletes named to the Big Ten's All-Conference team, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.
Cardin Stoller was named First Team All-Big Ten.
Joe Juengerkes,
Ryan Splaine and
Colin Kurdyla were named Second Team All-Big Ten.
Additionally, the Big Ten debuted a 10-member All-Freshman Team this season. RU had three representatives on the all-freshman Team:
JJ Aiello,
Haydn Sommer and
Colin Zeller. Also,
Colin Kelly was RU's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
Rutgers' four total all-conference selections was tied for the conference-high, sharing that number with Maryland and Ohio State. The three All-Freshman team selections were the most of any one school. Rutgers four all-conference selections are the program's most since 2022.
Stoller was RU's representative on the First Team and one of three goalkeepers to earn All-Big Ten recognition. Stoller gives RU a First Team All-Big Ten selection for the second straight year and the ninth time in 10 listings that RU has had at least one First Team All-Big Ten selection. Stoller is the third separate RU goalkeeper to be named First Team All-Big Ten since 2015, joining Colin Kirst (twice, 2021 and 2022) and Max Edelmann (2019).
Named a midseason All-American by
Inside Lacrosse, Stoller led the Big Ten this season with 165 saves, including notching double-digit saves 12 times and five games of at least 14 saves. He posted a save percentage of 57.9% and goals-against-average of 8.76. The Owing Mills, Md. native, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season, set new career-bests in all statistical categories, including ground balls (33) and caused turnovers (8), in addition to scoring the first two goals of his career. During conference play, Stoller had 53 saves, second most in the league. He had a goals-against-average of 9.40 and save percentage of 53.0 in league games. He was named national Player of the Week for his efforts in lifting RU over No. 2 Maryland for the first time since 1980. Stoller ranks in the top-12 nationally in both save percentage and goals-against-average.
Juengerkes excelled in his first season as a Scarlet Knight, where he was named a captain after the fall in his first season after transferring from Princeton. The short-stick defensive midfielder compiled 43 ground balls, seven goals, three assists and had 11 caused turnovers. The Islip, N.Y. native was also named a Midseason All-American by
Inside Lacrosse. He ranked 10
th in the league with 3.07 ground balls per game and earned a placement on the USILA team of the Week after the season opener.
Splaine had a career-best 44 ground balls, along with 15 caused turnovers, plus three goals and an assist on the year, surpassing 100 career ground balls. He ranked 9
th in the league with 3.14 ground balls per game and 10
th in caused turnovers (1.07). During conference play, Splaine scooped 16 ground balls. Splaine scored all three of his goals against conference foes, along with multiple ground balls in every game this season. He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following the win over No. 2 Maryland.
RU's defense has excelled overall this season behind the group's efforts. The team ranked 10
th in the nation with a scoring defense allowing just 8.79 goals per game. The Scarlet Knights limited opponents to single-digit goals in eight games and only allowed more than 11 goals twice.
Kurdyla was the team's leading goal scorer, putting the ball into the net 21 times. He also added 10 assists for a team-high 31 points. Moving from midfield to attack during the season, the Bridgewater, N.J. native scored 14 goals in the final seven games, with six multi-goal games in that span, including a career-high four goals against St. John's and a hat trick against Michigan. During conference play, Kurdyla was tied for fifth in the league in goals (9) and points (13). His 21 goals and 31 points are a new career-best for the sophomore, while he's matched last year's total with 10 assists.
Aiello started all 14 games on attack in his freshman season. He scored 10 goals and shared the team-high with 11 assists. The Bayport, N.Y. native was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, earning the recognition after scoring three goals across the first two games of the season, and again after his best game of the season, a three goal and two assist performance in the win over Loyola. He also scooped 15 ground balls on the season.
Sommer started in seven games, settling into a role on the first midfield for conference play. The Cypress, Texas native had 16 points with five goals and 11 assists on the year, sharing the team's lead in assists with Aiello. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on March 25 after scoring three goals and posting an assist against Johns Hopkins and also had three assists in the team's win over No. 2 Maryland.
Zeller started all 14 games at midfield during his redshirt freshman campaign with the Scarlet Knights. The Haverford, Pa. native scored 12 goals, tied for third on the team. He also added two assists and collected 14 ground balls. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on April 8 after scoring a team-high three goals in the win over No. 2 Maryland. During conference play, Zeller was tied for ninth in the league with seven goals, and most of any freshman.
Kelly earned recognition as the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, given to a member of each team who has distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports competition setting. The graduate student from Syracuse, N.Y. played in all 14 games, starting nine, including the last six on the first midfield. Kelly scored 14 goals and added three assists for 17 points, also scooping eight ground balls.
Rutgers concluded the regular season and begins Big Ten Tournament play this weekend. The Scarlet Knights, the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, head to No. 4 seed Michigan for a Quarterfinal game this Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be live streamed on B1G+.
