In a gripping match on Senior Day, the Rutgers men's lacrosse team succumbed to a 15-9 defeat against the formidable No. 10 Penn State in front of a home crowd of 2,964 enthusiasts. Dante Kulas led the charge for the Scarlet Knights, netting a season-high four goals. The pre-game festivities featured a tribute to the 27 seniors of the Rutgers team, followed by a halftime honor for the alumni present.
The win elevated Penn State’s record to 9-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten, securing them the third seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Meanwhile, the loss adjusted Rutgers’ record to 7-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play, with five of their six losses this season coming against ranked opponents.
In the match statistics, Rutgers outperformed Penn State in shots, 38-35, and faceoffs, 15-13. The Scarlet Knights also pressured the Nittany Lions into 16 turnovers, matching their season-high for goals in a conference game. Despite this, Penn State’s goalkeeper Jack Fraycon was a crucial difference-maker, making 14 saves and helping his team lead in ground balls, 30-27, and achieving a perfect clearing rate.
Rutgers’ head coach Brian Brecht shared his sentiments post-game, appreciating the senior players' contributions throughout their tenure and acknowledging the fine margins that decided the game.
"We had our chances throughout the night as we've had all season. The energy and commitment were commendable, but we lacked the precision needed to overcome a quality team like Penn State," Brecht remarked.
The game began promisingly for Rutgers, leading 4-3 at the 11-minute mark. However, Penn State took control in the middle segments, embarking on a 10-2 scoring run over 39 minutes, which solidified their lead and effectively set the tone for the remainder of the contest. Despite Rutgers scoring three of the game’s last five goals, it wasn’t sufficient to turn the tide.
Kulas’s performance was a highlight, with his four goals marking a personal best for the season. Other notable contributions came from Shane Knobloch and Ross Scott, with the latter adding a goal and two assists. New starter James Ringer, alongside John Sidorski, also found the back of the net. Additionally, Peter Rizzotti made a notable return, contributing significantly in his first appearance of the season.
Defensively, Ryan Splaine stood out with a career-high four caused turnovers, adding to his season tally impressively. The faceoff duties were split, with Cole Brams and Matt Soutar winning 11-of-21 and 4-of-7 faceoffs respectively. Goalkeeping duties saw a combined effort from seniors Seamus Fagan, Liam Gray, and Cardin Stoller, who collectively managed six saves.
Rutgers’ fate in the Big Ten Quarterfinals hinges on the outcome of the upcoming Ohio State versus Michigan game, determining whether they will claim the fifth or sixth seed and face a challenging away game against either Penn State or Ohio State.
