Saturday, January 31
Naples, Fla.
2:00 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Jacksonville
Photo by: Logan Marko
No. 18 Men’s Lacrosse Faces Jacksonville Saturday in Paradise Lacrosse Kickoff
Jan 29 | Men's Lacrosse
2 PM Game in Naples, Florida, with Stream on ESPN+
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse has the 2026 season in its sights. The Scarlet Knights hit the road for the season opener this weekend, as the Scarlet Knights will head to Naples, Florida, where the team will play in a neutral site game against Jacksonville University. The matchup is dubbed the Paradise Lacrosse Kickoff, with a start time of 2 pm on Saturday afternoon. There will be a live stream via ESPN+ with Ray Carnicelli and Matt Carey on the call.
Season-Opener Notes
Rutgers has won 13 straight season openers and has won 21 of their past 23 season openers. After opening at No. 20 Lehigh last season, RU is away from home for game one for the second straight year, while prior to that it had been since 2017 since RU started the season away from home. Under head coach Brian Brecht, RU is 3-0 in season openers away from home (Lehigh in 2025, St. John's in 2017 and 2015). Overall, RU is 13-1 in season openers under Brian Brecht, with 13 straight victories, and 21-2 in their last 23 season openers.
About Rutgers
Season Preview
The Scarlet Knights bring back a ton of experience from last season's youthful squad. Offensively, five of their top six in points last season were in their first or second on-field season of collegiate lacrosse. Rutgers graduated just one of its top 12 goal scorers last season (Dante Kulas) and brings back the top nine goal scorers. Rising junior Colin Kurdyla led the team with 27 goals and 40 points. Colin Kelly (16 goals), Colin Zeller (13 goals), Shane Murphy (12 goals) and JJ Aiello (11 goals, 13 assists) all made up the top-five in goal scoring, with Sommer posting 21 points on six goals and a team-high 15 assists.
Rutgers had four players named Preseason All-Americans this season: Ryan Splaine (Second Team/Third Team), Joe Juengerkes (Second Team/Third Team), Cardin Stoller (Third Team/Honorable Mention) and Colin Kurdyla (Honorable Mention).
Stoller established himself as one of the nation's top goalkeeper's last season, as he was an All-American, on the Top 25 on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and was the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. He finished 6th in the nation in goals-against-average (8.85) and 11th in save percentage (56.4%), ranking 3rd in the Big Ten in both categories, posting 182 saves - 11.25 saves per game.
Juengerkes will be the team's sole captain for this season, taking the captainship for the second straight season. In his first season at RU last season after transferring from Princeton, he had 16 caused turnovers, 55 ground balls, seven goals and four assists.
Last season, Rutgers was sixth nationally in scoring defense. In addition to the goalkeeper Stoller and SSDM Juengerkes, RU brings back starter Ben McKelvy at close defense.
About Jacksonville
Jacksonville head coach John Galloway enters his 10th season at the helm, a former Syracuse goalkeeper and team USA player and MLL All-Star. Last season, the Dolphins went 9-5 overall. JU faced three top-seven ranked teams in losses last season (No. 2 Syracuse, No. 4 UNC, No. 7 Duke).
Jacksonville graduated the program's all-time leader in points and assists in Jackson Intrieri, who had 19 goals and 36 assists last season and was eighth nationally in assitsts. Aaron Toguri was named All-ASUM last season, leading JU defensemen in ground balls and caused turnovers. Jack Taylor led the offense with 36 goals and had 25 assists last year, and was an All-American and First Team All-ASUN, and this year is a preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine. There were each named Preseason all-conference in addition to midfielder Breyden Harrison
Last season, Jacksonville ranked in the top-10 nationally in assists per game (third 9.14), man-down defense (third, 81.6%) points (sixth, 22.21) and shot percentage (eighth, .322). The Dolphins feature a Rutgers transfer on the squad (Owen Lenox, a Florida native who did not see game action in one season with the program in 2025).
About the Series
Rutgers and Jacksonville played twice in program history, splitting a home and home series in 2010 and 2011. Rutgers played at Jacksonville in 2010, a 17-10 loss. Then, RU won the return trip with a 10-6 victory in 2011. Last season, Rutgers made the trip down to Florida in the preseason, where the Scarlet Knights faced Jacksonville in a preseason scrimmage.
Up Next
Rutgers has a huge matchup on the books in the second game of the season. The Scarlet Knights will host No. 12 Army in the season opener, facing the Black Knights at 1 pm on Saturday, February 7 for the first matchup of the season against a ranked foe (with seven of the opponents on RU's regular season schedule in the preseason Media Poll). Single game and season tickets are available for purchase on ScarletKnights.com.
Season-Opener Notes
Rutgers has won 13 straight season openers and has won 21 of their past 23 season openers. After opening at No. 20 Lehigh last season, RU is away from home for game one for the second straight year, while prior to that it had been since 2017 since RU started the season away from home. Under head coach Brian Brecht, RU is 3-0 in season openers away from home (Lehigh in 2025, St. John's in 2017 and 2015). Overall, RU is 13-1 in season openers under Brian Brecht, with 13 straight victories, and 21-2 in their last 23 season openers.
About Rutgers
Season Preview
The Scarlet Knights bring back a ton of experience from last season's youthful squad. Offensively, five of their top six in points last season were in their first or second on-field season of collegiate lacrosse. Rutgers graduated just one of its top 12 goal scorers last season (Dante Kulas) and brings back the top nine goal scorers. Rising junior Colin Kurdyla led the team with 27 goals and 40 points. Colin Kelly (16 goals), Colin Zeller (13 goals), Shane Murphy (12 goals) and JJ Aiello (11 goals, 13 assists) all made up the top-five in goal scoring, with Sommer posting 21 points on six goals and a team-high 15 assists.
Rutgers had four players named Preseason All-Americans this season: Ryan Splaine (Second Team/Third Team), Joe Juengerkes (Second Team/Third Team), Cardin Stoller (Third Team/Honorable Mention) and Colin Kurdyla (Honorable Mention).
Stoller established himself as one of the nation's top goalkeeper's last season, as he was an All-American, on the Top 25 on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and was the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. He finished 6th in the nation in goals-against-average (8.85) and 11th in save percentage (56.4%), ranking 3rd in the Big Ten in both categories, posting 182 saves - 11.25 saves per game.
Juengerkes will be the team's sole captain for this season, taking the captainship for the second straight season. In his first season at RU last season after transferring from Princeton, he had 16 caused turnovers, 55 ground balls, seven goals and four assists.
Last season, Rutgers was sixth nationally in scoring defense. In addition to the goalkeeper Stoller and SSDM Juengerkes, RU brings back starter Ben McKelvy at close defense.
About Jacksonville
Jacksonville head coach John Galloway enters his 10th season at the helm, a former Syracuse goalkeeper and team USA player and MLL All-Star. Last season, the Dolphins went 9-5 overall. JU faced three top-seven ranked teams in losses last season (No. 2 Syracuse, No. 4 UNC, No. 7 Duke).
Jacksonville graduated the program's all-time leader in points and assists in Jackson Intrieri, who had 19 goals and 36 assists last season and was eighth nationally in assitsts. Aaron Toguri was named All-ASUM last season, leading JU defensemen in ground balls and caused turnovers. Jack Taylor led the offense with 36 goals and had 25 assists last year, and was an All-American and First Team All-ASUN, and this year is a preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine. There were each named Preseason all-conference in addition to midfielder Breyden Harrison
Last season, Jacksonville ranked in the top-10 nationally in assists per game (third 9.14), man-down defense (third, 81.6%) points (sixth, 22.21) and shot percentage (eighth, .322). The Dolphins feature a Rutgers transfer on the squad (Owen Lenox, a Florida native who did not see game action in one season with the program in 2025).
About the Series
Rutgers and Jacksonville played twice in program history, splitting a home and home series in 2010 and 2011. Rutgers played at Jacksonville in 2010, a 17-10 loss. Then, RU won the return trip with a 10-6 victory in 2011. Last season, Rutgers made the trip down to Florida in the preseason, where the Scarlet Knights faced Jacksonville in a preseason scrimmage.
Up Next
Rutgers has a huge matchup on the books in the second game of the season. The Scarlet Knights will host No. 12 Army in the season opener, facing the Black Knights at 1 pm on Saturday, February 7 for the first matchup of the season against a ranked foe (with seven of the opponents on RU's regular season schedule in the preseason Media Poll). Single game and season tickets are available for purchase on ScarletKnights.com.
Players Mentioned
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Defense
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Long-Stick Midfield
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Goalkeeper
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Midfield
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