No. 18 Men’s Lacrosse Downs Jacksonville in Overtime in Season Opener

Saturday, January 31

Naples, Fla.

2:00 PM

Rutgers University

2-0

Jacksonville

0-2

Rutgers

Jacksonville

Photo by: Mark Brown

No. 18 Men’s Lacrosse Downs Jacksonville in Overtime in Season Opener

Jan 31 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Stats Photo Gallery

Colin Kurdyla Has 4 Goals, Colin Kelly Scores Game-Winner in Overtime in 11-10 Win

NAPLES, Fla. – Facing a tough opponent in a neutral site meeting under sunny Florida skies in the season opener, Rutgers men's lacrosse prevailed in overtime, taking down Jacksonville, 11-10, to win the season opener.

Colin Kelly was the hero for the Scarlet Knights with the game-winner in overtime. Colin Kurdyla led the way for RU with four goals, while Kelly and Colin Zeller each had two. Hayden Sommer, Shane Murphy and Brenden Kelly also tallied for RU.

Cardin Stoller made 13 saves in the game, notching a save percentage of 56.5%. Shots were 49-45 RU, ground balls were 37-27 Jacksonville, and faceoffs were in favor of JU, 14-10. RU forced the Dolphins into 21 turnovers in the contest.

Joe Juengerkes and Ben McKelvy each had four ground balls for Rutgers. Connor Udovich led RU with two caused turnovers.

Brendan Kelly had a goal and three ground balls in his first game and start as a Scarlet Knight. Dylan Groff also earned his first collegiate start on defense, with a ground ball and caused turnover.

Rutgers had an early run of goals in the opening frame, answering Jacksonville's first tally by taking a 3-1. After the first quarter, with four different RU goal scorers, the Scarlet Knights' lead was 4-3.

The second quarter saw RU extend its advantage with a 3-1 run in the frame. RU had an 11-3 margin in the second quarter in shots on goal and took a 7-4 lead into the halftime locker room.

Jacksonville stormed out of the intermission with four goals, retaking the lead for the first time since the first quarter at 807. But Colin Kurdyla and Colin Zeller tallied back-to-back goals just under two minutes apart, with the Scarlet Knights retaking the lead at 9-8.

Another Kurdyla tally in the fourth quarter, his fourth of the day, gave the Scarlet Knights a two-goal lead with 14 minutes to play. However, the squad could add no further insurance, and surrendered two more goals to see the last five minutes of regulation played with a 10-10 tie. Neither team could break through, and the game went into extra time.

In overtime, John Scarelli won the opening faceoff for RU to take possession. RU's first shot went wide, but was backed up by RU. On the restart, Colin Kelly took the ball around the cage, got his hands free in open space, and launched home the game-winner to send the Scarlet Knights back to New Jersey with a 1-0 record.

Up next for the Scarlet Knights comes the home opener next Saturday. No. 18 Rutgers will host a ranked rivalry matchup in the season's second game, with No. 12 Army visiting for a 1 pm contest.