In a commanding display at SHI Stadium, the Rutgers men's lacrosse team took control early and never looked back, securing a decisive 13-5 victory over LIU. The Scarlet Knights, now 4-1, handed the Sharks their first loss of the season, dropping them to 3-1. Despite the recent blizzard, Rutgers came out strong, jumping to a 6-0 lead and maintaining their dominance throughout the game.
Rutgers outshot LIU 47-34 and dominated ground balls with a 36-17 advantage. They also excelled in faceoffs, winning 13 of 20. Head coach Brian Brecht expressed gratitude for the facilities team's efforts in clearing the field, making it game-ready despite two feet of snow.
Leading the charge was Greyson Vorgang, who notched three goals and two assists, setting new career highs. Kasey Mongillo, Joe Juengerkes, and Colin Kelly each contributed two goals, with Juengerkes matching his career-best.
Colin Zeller, Colin Kurdyla, Shane Murphy, and Bennett Raphalian also found the net, with Raphalian scoring his first of the season. Murphy and Kurdyla both tallied three assists, tying their career highs.
In goal, Cardin Stoller recorded eight saves, while Caden Kirst made his first career save in the fourth quarter. The Scarlet Knights utilized their depth, with 38 players seeing action.
John Scarelli, Brock Desmaris, and Jake Rainero shared faceoff duties effectively. Dylan Groff was a standout with six ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Rutgers' early offensive burst set the tone, as they shut out LIU in the first quarter and extended their lead to 7-0. Although LIU managed to cut the deficit to 8-3 and 10-4, they couldn't overcome Rutgers' initial onslaught, leading to the 13-5 final score.
With this midweek matchup behind them, the Scarlet Knights prepare for a busy stretch, hosting Hofstra this Saturday at 3 p.m., marking their third game in eight days.