Rutgers Men's Lacrosse Set for Unusual Home Opener Indoors Against No. 12 Army
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men’s lacrosse is set to kick off its home slate in a way that’s anything but typical. The 18th-ranked Scarlet Knights will host No. 12 Army this Saturday, but instead of playing on the familiar turf of SHI Stadium, the matchup is headed indoors - into the Busch Practice Bubble - thanks to a brutal weather forecast that calls for a real-feel temperature of just four degrees and wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour.
This will be the first regular season game Rutgers has ever played inside the bubble under head coach Brian Brecht. While the team routinely uses the facility for winter practices and preseason scrimmages, Saturday’s clash marks uncharted territory for a game that counts in the standings.
Due to space and safety considerations, the game won’t be open to the public. However, fans can still catch the action via a free live stream on the Rutgers Athletics Facebook page.
The stream will be limited - a single camera, no commentary - but it’s a chance to watch two top-20 teams battle it out in a unique setting. Live stats will be available at Rutgers.StatBroadcast.com, with updates also flowing through the team’s social media channels.
Scarlet Knights Riding High After Overtime Thriller
Rutgers comes into its home opener riding the momentum of a dramatic 11-10 overtime win against Jacksonville in the season opener last weekend. That game, played in sunny Naples, Florida at the Paradise Lacrosse Kickoff Classic, was anything but easy - but the Scarlet Knights showed grit and poise when it mattered most.
Colin Kurdyla was the offensive engine, pouring in four goals to match his career high. The Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch and returning All-American picked up right where he left off last season, when he tallied 27 goals and 13 assists. Saturday’s performance was vintage Kurdyla - clinical, confident, and clutch.
The game-winner came off the stick of Colin Kelly, who wasted no time in overtime. On the first possession of the extra frame, the Canisius transfer found a seam and buried the decisive shot. Kelly brings a veteran scoring touch to the Scarlet Knights, with 87 career goals to his name.
Between the pipes, Cardin Stoller was a difference-maker. The junior goalie made 13 saves, including several key stops down the stretch, and allowed just two goals over the final 25 minutes. His performance earned him MVP honors for the game - a strong start to a season in which he’s already picked up Preseason All-American recognition.
Rutgers returns a stacked offensive core this year. The team lost just one of its top 12 scorers from last season (Dante Kulas) and brings back its top nine.
Alongside Kurdyla and Kelly, the Scarlet Knights feature Colin Zeller (13 goals in 2025), Shane Murphy (12), and JJ Aiello (11 goals, 13 assists). Midfielder Ross Sommer adds another layer of creativity, coming off a season with six goals and a team-high 15 assists.
Four Scarlet Knights earned Preseason All-American nods: Ryan Splaine and Joe Juengerkes (Second Team/Third Team), Kurdyla (Honorable Mention), and Stoller (Third Team/Honorable Mention). It’s a group with both high-end talent and depth - a formula that’s powered Rutgers to national relevance in recent years.
Scouting Army: A Patriot League Powerhouse
Army enters Saturday’s game with a 1-0 record after a commanding 14-8 win over UMass in their season opener. Like Rutgers, the Black Knights were forced indoors due to weather, hosting the game at their own indoor facility.
Sophomore Hill Plunkett was the star of the show, notching five goals. The First Team All-Patriot League selection as a freshman is already building on a standout rookie campaign. Freshman Gus Bell and sophomore Brayden Fountain chipped in with two goals apiece, while senior goalie Sean Byrne made 11 saves to anchor the defense.
Army dominated the faceoff game behind Robert Simone, who went 12-of-19 and scooped up nine ground balls. The trio of Plunkett (Offensive Player of the Week), Byrne (Goalkeeper of the Week), and Bell (Rookie of the Week) all earned Patriot League weekly honors for their efforts.
Evan Plunkett - Hill’s brother - is a two-time All-American and the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. He was also named a Preseason All-American alongside Byrne, giving Army a potent one-two punch on both ends of the field.
The Black Knights were picked as preseason favorites in the Patriot League and enter the year with something to prove. Despite finishing last season with a 12-2 record and a top-five national ranking, they were left out of the NCAA Tournament after a first-round exit in the Patriot League tournament. That snub adds a layer of urgency to what’s already a high-stakes season.
Head coach Joe Alberici is in his 21st year leading the program, with a 184-113 record. He’s had Rutgers’ number over the years, going 13-5 against the Scarlet Knights, including an 8-4 mark since Brian Brecht took over in Piscataway in 2012.
A Rivalry with History - and High Stakes
Saturday marks the 88th meeting between Rutgers and Army, making it the second-most played rivalry in Rutgers program history, trailing only Princeton. Army holds the edge in the all-time series, with Rutgers claiming 25 wins and one tie. The Black Knights have won the last three matchups, including their most recent trip to Piscataway.
Rutgers’ last win over Army came in 2022 - a 13-10 victory powered by six goals from Ronan Jacoby and hat tricks from Shane Knobloch and Brian Cameron. Army was ranked No. 10 at the time. Since 2012, Rutgers has four wins in the series (2014, 2016, 2017, 2022).
This year’s showdown is the earliest meeting between the two programs on the calendar. While the game has traditionally been played in mid-to-late February, this is the first time since 2017 that Rutgers is facing Army as its second opponent of the season. The two teams have met every year since World War II, with the lone exception coming in 2021 due to COVID-19 schedule adjustments.
Rutgers’ opener against Jacksonville on January 31 was the earliest game in program history. Now, just days later, they’ll play their earliest-ever second game - and it comes against a perennial top-15 team with a chip on its shoulder.
What’s Next
After Saturday’s clash with Army, Rutgers hits the road to face Stony Brook next weekend. The Seawolves open their season Friday at Sacred Heart before hosting the Scarlet Knights at noon on Saturday.
Rutgers then returns home for a three-game stretch, hosting Villanova (Feb. 21), LIU (Feb. 24), and Hofstra (Feb.
28). But first, all eyes are on Saturday - a top-20 battle, indoors, in February.
It’s not your typical home opener, but it’s shaping up to be a must-watch moment early in the 2026 college lacrosse season.