Men’s Lacrosse Awards Announced at 2026 Team Banquet
Oct 05 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse welcomed back its program alumni over Homecoming Weekend with a host of events. The team held its annual Golf Outing Friday and the Alumni Game on Friday night. There was an alumni event during the homecoming football game on the Party Deck. On Sunday, RU hosted the annual team banquet, honoring last year's seniors and announcing the 2026 individual award winners.
The Rutgers Lacrosse Knight Cup is awarded to the player who has played the game of lacrosse to the best of his ability, who has, by example, inspired or led his teammates both on and off the field and who, above all, has consistently demonstrated the qualities of unselfishness and loyalty to his team and Rutgers University. This year's recipient was Colin Kurdyla. Kurdyla was also the recipient of the Alfred Sasser Trophy, which is awarded to a member of the team with the most assists. Kurdyla was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Inside Lacrosse media voting, and was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection. The attackman led the team with 30 goals, 27 assists and 57 points as a junior. The Bridgewater, N.J. native was the Big Ten's leader in points per game (3.8) and assists per game (1.8).
The William Miller Trophy is awarded to that team member in good academic standing who, by his own example, has constituted an inspiration to his teammates and made the greatest contribution to the team in the season's play. This year's recipient was Joe Juengerkes. A team captain during both his seasons 'On the Banks', the Islip, N.Y. native was the team's top short-stick defensive midfielder. He was a Second Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten and All-ECAC selection. He led RU with 44 ground balls and had five goals and 13 caused turnovers.
The Al Twitchell Award, presented to a freshman player who was seen as the most valuable to his team, was presented to Dylan Finder. The short-stick defensive midfielder from Chandler, Ariz. was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He had nine ground balls and four caused turnovers and once earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
The Doc Peterson Award is awarded to a player who displays a balance of both academics and athletics and has put the success of the program and his teammates ahead of himself. This individual was the unsung hero of the season in all aspects. The recipient of the Doc Peterson Award this year was Dylan Groff. A starting defenseman from Evanston, Ill., Groff had 31 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after the matchup against No. 12 Army.
The Frederick Fitch Trophy is awarded to a letterwinner who, through personal effort to develop his lacrosse ability, has shown the greatest improvement during the season. This year's recipient was Kasey Mongillo. In his second season at Rutgers, the midfielder started 11 games with 15 goals and six assists. The North Haven, Conn. native notably scored the game-tying goal with 0.1 seconds left in regulation in RU's overtime win over Johns Hopkins.
The Robert Collet Trophy is awarded to the member of the Rutgers varsity lacrosse team who displays the best physical and mental spirit. A Graduate Student from Syracuse, N.Y., this year's recipient was Colin Kelly. In his third season at RU after overcoming multiple injuries, Kelly posted 20 goals, finishing third on the team in goals and points (23).
The Tom Hayes Award is awarded to the graduating senior player who has made a significant and lasting impact over his entire career on the Rutgers Lacrosse Program. This year's recipient is Ben McKelvy. The native of Kent Island, Md. spent five years as a Scarlet Knight. A Scholar All-American and Senior All-Star Game selection in 2026, McKelvy played in 52 games 'On the Banks', starting 45 of them. The defenseman finished his career with 66 ground ball and 29 caused turnovers, setting career highs in both categories as a senior (29 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers).
Rutgers also presented two Academic Awards. The Collins Award is given to the member of the team with the greatest increase in GPA. This year's winner was Kasey Mongillo.
The Campbell Sode Scholar Athlete Award is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA. This year's recipient of the award was Justin Lawler. Lawler, a four-time Academic All-Big Ten and four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, won the award for the fourth straight season. He was also RU's Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award Recipient.
Following homecoming weekend, Rutgers will host three scrimmages over the next four weeks. The Scarlet Knights will welcome NJIT (October 10), Syracuse (October 24) and Delaware (October 30) to campus for fall exhibition matchups. The contest against Syracuse will be held at SHI Stadium, while the NJIT and Delaware scrimmages will be held on the F3 Turf Field. All scrimmages are open to the public and free to attend.
The Rutgers Lacrosse Knight Cup is awarded to the player who has played the game of lacrosse to the best of his ability, who has, by example, inspired or led his teammates both on and off the field and who, above all, has consistently demonstrated the qualities of unselfishness and loyalty to his team and Rutgers University. This year's recipient was Colin Kurdyla. Kurdyla was also the recipient of the Alfred Sasser Trophy, which is awarded to a member of the team with the most assists. Kurdyla was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Inside Lacrosse media voting, and was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection. The attackman led the team with 30 goals, 27 assists and 57 points as a junior. The Bridgewater, N.J. native was the Big Ten's leader in points per game (3.8) and assists per game (1.8).
The William Miller Trophy is awarded to that team member in good academic standing who, by his own example, has constituted an inspiration to his teammates and made the greatest contribution to the team in the season's play. This year's recipient was Joe Juengerkes. A team captain during both his seasons 'On the Banks', the Islip, N.Y. native was the team's top short-stick defensive midfielder. He was a Second Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten and All-ECAC selection. He led RU with 44 ground balls and had five goals and 13 caused turnovers.
The Al Twitchell Award, presented to a freshman player who was seen as the most valuable to his team, was presented to Dylan Finder. The short-stick defensive midfielder from Chandler, Ariz. was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He had nine ground balls and four caused turnovers and once earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
The Doc Peterson Award is awarded to a player who displays a balance of both academics and athletics and has put the success of the program and his teammates ahead of himself. This individual was the unsung hero of the season in all aspects. The recipient of the Doc Peterson Award this year was Dylan Groff. A starting defenseman from Evanston, Ill., Groff had 31 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after the matchup against No. 12 Army.
The Frederick Fitch Trophy is awarded to a letterwinner who, through personal effort to develop his lacrosse ability, has shown the greatest improvement during the season. This year's recipient was Kasey Mongillo. In his second season at Rutgers, the midfielder started 11 games with 15 goals and six assists. The North Haven, Conn. native notably scored the game-tying goal with 0.1 seconds left in regulation in RU's overtime win over Johns Hopkins.
The Robert Collet Trophy is awarded to the member of the Rutgers varsity lacrosse team who displays the best physical and mental spirit. A Graduate Student from Syracuse, N.Y., this year's recipient was Colin Kelly. In his third season at RU after overcoming multiple injuries, Kelly posted 20 goals, finishing third on the team in goals and points (23).
The Tom Hayes Award is awarded to the graduating senior player who has made a significant and lasting impact over his entire career on the Rutgers Lacrosse Program. This year's recipient is Ben McKelvy. The native of Kent Island, Md. spent five years as a Scarlet Knight. A Scholar All-American and Senior All-Star Game selection in 2026, McKelvy played in 52 games 'On the Banks', starting 45 of them. The defenseman finished his career with 66 ground ball and 29 caused turnovers, setting career highs in both categories as a senior (29 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers).
Rutgers also presented two Academic Awards. The Collins Award is given to the member of the team with the greatest increase in GPA. This year's winner was Kasey Mongillo.
The Campbell Sode Scholar Athlete Award is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA. This year's recipient of the award was Justin Lawler. Lawler, a four-time Academic All-Big Ten and four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, won the award for the fourth straight season. He was also RU's Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award Recipient.
Following homecoming weekend, Rutgers will host three scrimmages over the next four weeks. The Scarlet Knights will welcome NJIT (October 10), Syracuse (October 24) and Delaware (October 30) to campus for fall exhibition matchups. The contest against Syracuse will be held at SHI Stadium, while the NJIT and Delaware scrimmages will be held on the F3 Turf Field. All scrimmages are open to the public and free to attend.
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