Rutgers men’s lacrosse earns first NCAA Tournament bid since 2004

With an 8-3 record playing a Big Ten only schedule this season, the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team is going dancing. They will face no. 8 seed and Patriot League champs Lehigh in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The game will take place on Saturday, May 15 at 2:30 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va.

Despite an upset loss to Johns Hopkins in the Big Ten semifinals, the Scarlet Knights earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004 and tenth overall. They last won an NCAA Tournament game to advance to the Quarterfinals in 1990 when they defeated Virginia 7-6.

Rutgers played the 9th toughest schedule and have the 9th best resume per Lacrosse Reference.

Head coach Brian Brecht takes RU to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his tenth season after several years of just missing the cut. He was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year after RU finished in second place in the regular season.

“I’m very excited for our guys,” head coach Brian Brecht said. “I’m proud of all the hard work that they’ve put in, the sacrifice and the commitment. I’m very thankful to our alumni base and our administration to take this next step and play in the month of May. I’m excited for our senior class; they’ve been through a lot and have been great leaders for us. And I’m proud of the whole team, the sacrifices that they made to make this happen. We had eight Big Ten wins – what a great job they did all year long.”

The Scarlet Knights have one of the most potent offenses in the country this season led by Adam Charalambides, Connor Kirst and Kieran Mullins. In addition, newcomer Shane Knobloch has been a strong compliment which earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Year. They have 4th best adjusted offensive efficiency in the nation per Lacrosse Reference.

Colin Kirst was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and helped RU to the 10th best defensive efficiency in the nation.