BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Rutgers men's lacrosse opened the 2025 season on the road, earning a 10-6 victory on the road at No. 20 Lehigh. Rutgers was led by three goals from
Colin Kelly.
Shane Murphy added two goals.
JJ Aiello,
Dante Kulas,
Joe Juengerkes,
Justin Lawler and
Colin Kurdyla all also found the scoresheet for RU.
Cardin Stoller made 10 saves and allowed just six goals, a 62.5% performance between the cage. It was the second lowest goals allowed for him in his career amongst games where he played the full six minutes.
Rutgers had a clearing percentage of 91.3%. Conversely, they pressure the Mountain Hawks into clearing just 54.5% of the time. RU had a 44-30 margin in shots, and forced Lehigh into 22 turnovers and 10 failed clears.Lehigh had a 34-31 margin in ground balls.
Lehigh scored the game's first goal, and held a lead for just under a minute in the early going. RU countered with a three-goal run, and never trailed from there.
The Scarlet Knights led 4-3 at the end of the first quarter and 5-4 midway through the second. From there, the Scarlet Knights scored five of the game's final seven goals, and four of the final five. The defense suffocated the Lehigh attack, as the Mountain Hawks scored just two goals across the final 38 minutes of the contest to ensure the victory.
With the Win
- 42-8-1 all-time against Lehigh, 42-3 since 1926 and 16-1 since 1961.
- 13-0 in last 13 season openers and 21-2 in last 23
- Rutgers improves to 13-1 in season openers under head coach Brian Brecht, with 13 straight season-opening wins.
- Head coach Brian Brecht's 100th career win at Rutgers
Participation Notes
- First collegiate start:
JJ Aiello,
Shane Murphy,
Haydn Sommer,
Colin Zeller.
- Collegeiate Debut:
JJ Aiello, Bennett Raphallian,
Greyson Vorgang,
Haydn Sommer,
TJ Conley
- Rutgers Debut:
JJ Aiello, Bennett Raphallian,
Greyson Vorgang,
Haydn Sommer,
TJ Conley,
Joe Juengerkes,
Kasey Mongillo,
Ethan Barnard,
Matthew Paolatto,
Brian Mack
- First Collegiate Goal:
Justin Lawler,
JJ Aiello
Gallery: (2-1-2025) Men's Lacrosse Wins at No. 20 Lehigh
Up Next
- The Scarlet Knights are home next week for two games. RU hosts LIU in the home opener on Tuesday at 3 p.m., then welcomes Stony Brook on Saturday, Feb. 8 at noon.
