Rutgers Opens Season With Overtime Thriller Against Jacksonville
NAPLES, Fla. - Rutgers men’s lacrosse didn’t ease into the 2026 season - they dove straight into the fire and came out with a gritty, overtime win over Jacksonville, 11-10, under the Florida sun. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was the kind of battle that reveals a team’s character early. And for the Scarlet Knights, that character showed up when it mattered most.
Colin Kelly Delivers in the Clutch
The hero? Colin Kelly.
In overtime, with the game on the line, Kelly took matters into his own hands. After Rutgers secured possession off the opening faceoff in OT, their first shot missed wide - but they backed it up.
On the restart, Kelly circled the cage, found a seam, and ripped the game-winner past the keeper. Just like that, Rutgers walked off with a 1-0 start to the season.
Kurdyla Lights It Up
While Kelly sealed the deal, it was Colin Kurdyla who carried the offensive load. The attackman poured in four goals, setting the tone throughout the afternoon. He was relentless, and his third-quarter burst helped Rutgers reclaim momentum after Jacksonville had stormed back to take the lead.
Kurdyla’s goals weren’t just timely - they were needed. After RU built a 7-4 halftime lead behind a dominant second quarter (including an 11-3 edge in shots on goal), Jacksonville came out firing in the third.
The Dolphins rattled off four straight goals, flipping the script and putting Rutgers on its heels. But Kurdyla and Colin Zeller responded with back-to-back tallies in under two minutes, swinging the lead back to RU.
Stat Sheet Standouts
Zeller and Kelly each added two goals of their own, while Hayden Sommer, Shane Murphy, and Brenden Kelly chipped in one apiece. Brenden Kelly also made his first start as a Scarlet Knight count, adding three ground balls to go along with his goal.
Between the pipes, Cardin Stoller came up big with 13 saves, good for a 56.5% save percentage. He was steady throughout, especially during Jacksonville’s late push and the tense final minutes of regulation.
Defensively, Rutgers forced 21 turnovers - a testament to their pressure and ability to disrupt Jacksonville’s rhythm. Joe Juengerkes and Ben McKelvy were active on the ground, scooping up four ground balls each. Connor Udovich led the way with two caused turnovers, while freshman Dylan Groff made his collegiate debut with a ground ball and a takeaway of his own.
The Flow of the Game
Rutgers opened strong, answering Jacksonville’s early goal with a 3-0 run. Four different players found the net in the first quarter, giving RU a 4-3 edge after one. They kept the foot on the gas in the second, outshooting Jacksonville and stretching the lead to 7-4 at the break.
But the Dolphins weren’t going away. Their third-quarter surge - capped by a go-ahead goal - showed they came to play.
Still, Rutgers responded with poise. Kurdyla’s fourth goal early in the fourth quarter gave RU a 10-8 cushion, but they couldn’t find the insurance they needed.
Jacksonville clawed back again, tying it up late and forcing overtime.
That’s when Kelly stepped up and ended it.
What’s Next
This win sets the tone, but the road only gets tougher. Next up: a marquee home opener against No.
12 Army. It’s a ranked rivalry matchup that’s sure to bring intensity and emotion.
For No. 18 Rutgers, it’s another early-season test - but after Saturday’s battle in Naples, they’ve already shown they’re built for the fight.