RU Men's Lacrosse Set to Scrimmage Lafayette Sunday

RU Men's Lacrosse Set to Scrimmage Lafayette Sunday: "PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 15, 2009) – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team is set to scrimmage Lafayette Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Rutgers’ F-3 turf field in Piscataway, N.J.."

Rutgers Looks For Second Straight Win Against Wagner

Men’s Lacrosse Looks For Second Straight Win Against Wagner: "PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team, which has won two of its last three games, will return home Tuesday to take on Wagner at Yurcak Field. Game time is set for 7 p.m."

Diehl is ECAC Rookie of the Week

CAPE COD, Mass. – Rutgers freshman Mike Diehl (Flemington, N.J.) was selected as the ECAC men’s lacrosse Rookie of the Week, the league announced Monday. Diehl tied his season-high with two goals and added an assist in the Scarlet Knights only game of the week at Saint Joseph’s.

Diehl leads all RU freshmen and is second on the team with six goals. Additionally, the midfielder has handed out two assists, while starting all four games this season.

Full press release here.

Rutgers Gets Beat in 2nd Half by St. Joe's.

PHILADELPHIA – Senior Jeff Rommel (Syracuse, N.Y.) dished out a career-high four assists, but Saint Joseph’s outscored Rutgers 4-1 in the second half to upend the Scarlet Knights men’s lacrosse team 10-7 at Finnesey Field Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Kory Kelly (Princeton, N.J.) and freshman Mike Diehl (Flemington, N.J.) scored two goals each to lead the Scarlet Knights, who fall to 1-3 on the year. Scott Cullinan posted a game-high three goals to lead Saint Joe’s, who moves to 2-2.

For the second consecutive game, Rutgers jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Diehl netted two goals in the first seven minutes. However, the Hawks responded with five straight goals spanning the first and the second quarter to take a 5-3 lead.

Click here for the complete Press Release from ScarletKnights.com

Box Score

No. 6 UMBC shoots past Rutgers

Poillon contributes four goals, three assists to lead Retrievers

UMBC midfielder Peet Poillon scored four goals and added three assists to lead the No. 6 Retrievers to a 17-10 victory over Rutgers today.

Midfielder Kyle Wimer had three goals and an assist for the Retrievers, who led 7-5 at halftime. Attackmen Chris Jones and Ryan Smith scored two goals each for UMBC

See the story here in the Balitmore Sun

Pennington Named to Tewaarton Watch List

BALTIMORE, Md. – Junior midfielder Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) has been named to the 2009 watch list for the Tewaarton Trophy. The Tewaarton Trophy is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award, honoring the top male varsity collegiate lacrosse player in the United States.

The players on the list were nominated by coaches across the country and are now considered early season hopefuls for the prestigious award. Names can still be added throughout the spring until five finalists are selected at the end of the year. Pennington is the second RU player to be named to the watch list after defenseman Chris O’Dougherty (Kinnelon, N.J.) was chosen in 2008.

Click here for the full press release.

Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse Victorious in First Road Game of the Season

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Sophomore Kory Kelly (Princeton, N.J.) tallied a team-high three goals and freshman Mike Diehl (Flemington, N.J.) scored twice and added an assist as the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team picked up its first win of the 2009 season with an 11-7 victory over Manhattan at Gaelic Park Wednesday afternoon.

Rutgers (1-1) used a six-goal effort in the third quarter to improve to 9-0 all-time against Manhattan (0-1). Junior midfielder Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) scored his third goal of the season and dished out two assists, all in the decisive third quarter.

“I thought that we did a good job of persevering and playing through tough weather conditions and we’re happy to come away with a road win,” said head coach Jim Stagnitta. “We regrouped and came together to play a strong second half. Offensively we executed despite the conditions and we were able to accomplish what we set out to do.”

Click here for the full press release.

Men’s Lacrosse Begins Four-Game Road Swing at Manhattan

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team will take on Manhattan in its first road test of the season on Wednesday at Gaelic Park. The matchup, starting at 3 p.m., will be the first of four straight road games for the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers will be looking to pick up its first victory of the season after an opening day loss to Villanova, 8-4, at the RU Turf Field on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights were led by Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) and freshman standout Mike Diehl (Flemington, N.J.) , who each tallied two goals on the day.

Click here for the full press release.

Scarlet Knights Drop Season Opener to Villanova

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior midfielder Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) and freshman Mike Diehl (Flemington, N.J.) scored two goals each for the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team, but a big fourth quarter clinched an 8-4 Villanova win in both teams season opener at the RU Turf Field Saturday afternoon.

The loss marks the first time Rutgers has dropped its season opener since 2002. It’s also the first ever win for the Wildcats over the Scarlet Knights as RU was a perfect 6-0 prior to Saturday’s meeting.

Click here for the full press release.

Rutgers Opens Season Saturday Against Villanova

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team will begin its 2009 season Saturday against Villanova at the RU Turf Field. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m. The Scarlet Knights are a perfect 6-0 all-time against the Wildcats, but the two schools have not met since 1997. The matchup with Villanova will be RU’s only home game in its first five contests.

Click here for the full press release.

O’Dougherty leads tough Rutgers D

By Matt Sugam
Daily Targum Staff Writer

When looking for a school close to home so his parents could come to all his games, and a place where he could play and make an impact right away, senior defensemen Chris O’Dougherty felt right at home in Piscataway.

The Kennelon, N.J., native also liked what he saw in Rutgers men’s lacrosse head coach Jim Stagnitta’s vision for the program. Stagnitta wanted to bring the program back to national prominence.

O’Dougherty had the same goals for his home-state school. After playing a major role in Seton Hall Prep’s run to a the Group VI state title his junior year and then leading them back to the semifinals his senior season, O’Dougherty came to RU hoping to bring them closer to the mountaintop.

“I wanted to help bring Rutgers to the premier, make them a top tier program, and we’re knocking on the door now so [we] almost reached that goal,” he said.

The Scarlet Knights are more than just knocking. They are lined up at the door with a battering ram as they are returning eight starters from last year’s team.

Click here for the entire article at the Daily Targum.

See O'Dougherty's bio on ScarletKnights.com.

Five storylines to watch this season

1. Can Syracuse repeat?

It's a question that has been "repeated" since 1998 when Princeton capped a run of three consecutive national championships. But if there's a team poised to join those Tigers, it's this year's Orange, which returns six starters and adds a pair of transfers in senior midfielder Scott Kahoe ( Georgetown) and sophomore defenseman John Lade (Villanova) - both of whom are expected to start. If junior attackman Cody Jamieson (122 goals, 237points in two seasons at Onondaga Community College), a transfer, can clear eligibility, watch out. The key could be finding a replacement for faceoff specialist Danny Brennan, who led the nation with a .667 percentage.

2. Maybe this is the year …

… that a school other than the bluebloods - Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, Princeton or Virginia - captures the national title. One of those four programs has taken home the crown each year since 1992. The last team outside those four to win the national championship? North Carolina in 1991. Those Tar Heels, Maryland, Cornell, UMBC and Duke are deserving of mention.

3. Princeton on the rise

For the first time since 2005, the Tigers failed to collect an NCAA tournament invitation, but a repeat is unlikely. Why? Princeton has not spent May at home in back-to-back seasons under coach Bill Tierney since 1988-1989. Graduation took a toll on the defense, but the offense might be even stronger than last year's.

4. Is there a surprise team on the horizon?

Hofstra returns four starters who scored no fewer than 22goals each. Georgetown is still fuming over being left out of the tournament, and Bucknell and Colgate renew a budding rivalry with Navy. Brown might have a say in determining whether Cornell or Princeton takes home the Ivy League title.

5. Go west

All four teams that make up the Atlantic Coast Conference earned a seed, but the Great Western Lacrosse League didn't fare too poorly, sending Notre Dame, Ohio State and Denver to the NCAA tournament. Notre Dame and Ohio State advanced to the quarterfinals, with the Irish on the cusp of upsetting eventual champion Syracuse. Sending those three teams again could be tough, but not impossible.


Original story here.

Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse Announces Coaching Clinic

Source : Scarletknights.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men’s lacrosse head coach Jim Stagnitta announced that the program will host a coaching clinic, Sunday January 25. The clinic consists of teaching sessions that emphasize specific topics in the game of lacrosse for the youth/beginning player or the high school/advanced player.

Teaching sessions include one-on-one question and answer periods, along with film analysis and chalkboard breakdowns. The clinic is open to all youth and high school coaches.

The clinic will not only feature RU coaches Jim Stagnitta, James Rogalski and Jason Basso, but also former Rutgers All-American Reid Jackson and Princeton University associate head coach Dave Metzbower.

For more information and details on the clinic, please visit: www.mxplaxcamps.com

Pennington and O’Dougherty Selected as Preseason All-Americans

Source: ScarletKnights.com

BALTIMORE, Md. – Junior midfielder Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) and senior defenseman Chris O’Dougherty (Kinnelon, N.J) were selected as preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse. The duo garnered third team honors in the annual Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-America list.

Pennington, who was named the 2009 ECAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year last week, led Rutgers in both points and assists in 2008. The midfielder tallied 32 points on 22 goals and 10 assists a year ago. Additionally, he ranked 11th in the country, averaging 5.15 groundballs per game. An honorable mention All-American in 2008, Pennington was recently ranked No. 7 by Inside Lacrosse in the magazine’s list of the Top-10 midfielders in the country.

O’Dougherty, who joined Pennington on last season’s All-ECAC First Team, anchored an RU defense that ranked Top-30 nationally in both scoring defense and man-down defense last spring.

The Scarlet Knights, who finished third in the ECAC in 2008, will begin their season on Saturday, Feb. 7 with a home matchup against Villanova at RU Turf Field.

Schmidt Added to Coaching Staff

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - After a stellar playing career at Rutgers, Nick Schmidt returns to ‘the Banks’ as a volunteer assistant coach on the Scarlet Knights staff in 2009. He will focus primarily on player development, working directly with the attack. He’ll be focusing on teaching fundamentals with shooting and dodging and analyzing practice and game film to help teach proper techniques. . .

See the full press release here.

Rutgers Announces 2009 Schedule

Rutgers men's lacrosse head coach Jim Stagnitta has announced the Scarlet Knights schedule for the upcoming 2009 season. The slate includes matchups with three teams that advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament, including defending national champion Syracuse.

Full story and schedule here.

Big East Lacrosse Debuts in 2010

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST Conference will formally begin sponsoring the sport of men's lacrosse beginning in the spring of 2010. The announcement about the Conference adding its 24^th sport was made today by Commissioner Michael Tranghese following a unanimous vote by the league's 16 Directors of Athletics during their recent annual spring meeting.

The seven conference schools that will participate in the newly formed league are Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, Syracuse and Villanova. The teams will play a six-game single round-robin regular season schedule. The BIG EAST will apply for an automatic bid to the 16-team NCAA Championship field.

Syracuse won the 2008 NCAA Men's Lacrosse national title, the program's 10^th, after earning an at-large bid as a Division I Independent. Notre Dame also garnered a berth into the national tournament as an automatic qualifier from the Great Western Lacrosse League. Currently, Georgetown, Rutgers and St. John's are part of the ECAC, Providence is a member of the MAAC and Villanova plays in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"We are looking forward to the excitement that men's lacrosse will bring to the BIG EAST Conference," said Commissioner Tranghese. "We have schools with established and successful programs, which want to come together and compete under the BIG EAST brand."

Men's lacrosse will be the BIG EAST's 11^th men's sport while the Conference conducts 13 women's sports.

Defense Leads Rutgers to 8-4 Win Over Penn State

Courtesy: Rutgers Press Release

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The Rutgers men's lacrosse team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and put forth an exceptional defensive effort en route to an 8-4 ECAC win over Penn State Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field.

The Scarlet Knights improve to 5-6 overall and move into a tie for third place in the ECAC with a 3-2 league mark. Penn State, coming off an 8-7 victory over No. 9 Bucknell Tuesday, drops to 5-7 overall and 1-5 in conference action.

Sophomore Hunter Burnard (Binghamton, N.Y.) led the Scarlet Knights with a season-high four points on two goals and two assists, while classmate Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) also tallied two goals.

Click here for the full press release and here for the box score.

Rutgers Falls to Top Ranked Syracuse, 17-9

Rutgers Sports Information Press Release

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team pulled to within four goals with just under seven minutes remaining in the game, but a potent Syracuse attack proved to be too much as the top-ranked Orange picked up a 17-9 win at Yurcak Field Saturday afternoon.

The Scarlet Knights, who have dropped back-to-back games to Top 20 opponents after winning two straight, fall to 4-6 on the year. Syracuse, which is ranked No. 1 in the latest USILA Coaches Poll, has now won eight straight games and sits at 10-1 on the year.

Click here for the full press release and here for the box score.

Orangemen Visit the Scarlet Knights Sat, 12pm Yurcak

If you are headed to the game, check out the 29 pages of Game Notes that the SU Athletics Office put together. That's the most comprehensive pre-game press release we've seen in awhile! We are all for stats and info, but do we really need to know who the Second Cousin Combos are on the team? How come they don't tell us the most played song on Mike Leveille's iPod or what brand of toilet paper is in their locker room?

Conversely, here is the meat & potatoes stat breakdown for Rutgers.

Update 4/11/08 21:34 - Here is Rutgers' 29 page retort.