Spring sports are now in full swing, and No.14/16 Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse has started its season 3-1, with its only loss coming against No. 12 Army by two points, and its three wins coming against Jacksonville, Stony Brook, and Villanova, who the Scarlet Knights beat 8-7 in their most recent game this past Saturday.
Redshirt sophomore Greyson Vorgang led the charge for Rutgers against Villanova, scoring four of the Knights’ goals and matching his entire goal output from last season. This is his second game in a row scoring three or more goals, as he had a hat trick in the Knights’ win over Stony Brook.
Both teams started hot offensively, having a combined 9 points on the board before the end of the first quarter and combining for 13 of the game’s 15 goals in the first two quarters. The Wildcat’s Luke Raymond broke open the scoring in the first, before Collin Zeller, Joe Juengerkes, and Vorgang tallied three straight for Rutgers. After trading goals, Villanova ripped three goals in the last two and a half minutes of the first quarter to take a 5-4 lead heading into the second.
Justin Lawler, Brenden Kelly, and Vorgang tallied three goals in the second, compared to the Wildcats one, to give Rutgers a one-score lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter went scoreless, but in the fourth, Villanova tied it up off a Colin Michener goal before Vorgang ultimately broke the tie with just over four minutes left in the game, as the Knights held on to secure victory.
The Knights have scored at least eight or more goals in every single game so far this season.
Cardin Stoller, Rutgers goalkeeper, turned aside a total of 14 shots in this game, which is his high for the season. Connor Udovich led the defense with three caused turnovers.
Colin Kurdyla, despite not scoring in this game, leads the Knights in scoring for the season so far, as he has 11 total goals.
Rutgers has two more home games this week. The Knights host LIU on Tuesday for some midweek action and then Hofstra on Saturday to finish off the week.