In Piscataway, N.J., the No. 19 Rutgers men's lacrosse team is gearing up for their non-conference finale against Bellarmine this Saturday at noon at SHI Stadium. This game marks the annual LaCROSSe Out Cancer Game, supporting Pediatric Cancer Research-a cause close to the Scarlet Knights' hearts.
For fans unable to attend in person, the game will be live-streamed on B1G+, with Dom Savino and Rick Mercurio providing commentary.
Rutgers stands at an impressive 6-2 overall and is aiming to finish non-conference play with a solid 7-2 record. A win would not only match their win totals from the past two seasons but also mark their best start since 2023.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a dominant performance, having secured a 19-4 victory against St. John's.
This win marked their 11th consecutive triumph over St. John's, boasting a commanding 26-7 all-time series lead.
Rutgers has outscored St. John's by a staggering 100-37 over the last five matchups, consistently scoring 19 or more goals in recent encounters.
Colin Kurdyla was the star of the show, recording four goals and seven assists, setting a new career-high with 11 points. His performance was the best by a Rutgers player since 1993, tying for fourth-most points in a single game and sixth-most assists all-time. Kurdyla's efforts pushed him past the 100 career points milestone.
Haydn Sommer also shone brightly, notching a career-high six points with five goals and an assist. His five-goal haul was the first for a Rutgers player since Ross Scott's memorable NCAA Tournament performance in 2022.
The return of JJ Aiello was a welcome sight for the Scarlet Knights. After being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season, Aiello made his presence felt with a goal in his first game back since the season opener.
Defensively, Rutgers is excelling with a man-down defense ranked seventh nationally at 84.6%. They also lead the Big Ten with 11.38 saves per game, thanks in large part to Cardin Stoller, who tops the conference with 10.38 saves per game.
Kurdyla's contributions extend beyond the St. John's game, as he leads the Big Ten with 2.13 assists and 4.50 points per game. His 36 points put him six clear of second place in the league, while his 17 assists and 19 goals rank first and second, respectively.
Bellarmine enters the matchup with a 4-5 record, having faced a challenging schedule that included ranked opponents like Duke, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. Despite their record, Bellarmine has shown flashes of brilliance, led by John Alie, who has 43 points this season and is the program's all-time leading goal scorer.
Ezra Moore also stands out for Bellarmine, ranking ninth nationally with 2.44 assists per game. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Nolan Hudnut has been a stalwart, posting 13.89 saves per game, placing him fifth nationally.
This game marks the first meeting between Rutgers and Bellarmine, adding an intriguing chapter to both programs' histories. Bellarmine, based in Louisville, transitioned to Division I in 2020-21 and has been competing at this level since 2005.
A notable connection between the teams is former Rutgers assistant coach Jim Mitchell, who spent time as Bellarmine's head coach before moving to Princeton. As these two teams face off for the first time, fans can expect an exciting clash at SHI Stadium.