ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Rutgers men's lacrosse extended the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon, winning at No. 13 Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals. Led by four goals and two assists from Colin Kurdyla, the Scarlet Knights earned an 11-8 win to advance to the Semifinals.

No. 5 seeded Rutgers will move on to the Semifinals, where they will face No. 1 seed Ohio State. That game will be back in Ann Arbor, contested at 5 p.m. on Thursday on Big Ten Network.

Rutgers improves to 7-8 overall with the victory over Michigan, the winners of the previous two Big Ten Tournaments in 2023 and 2024. The Wolverines fell to 7-7. 

RU led 44-31 in shots and forced 17 Michigan turnovers. Colin Kelly (two), JJ Aiello, Haydn Sommer, Justin Lawler, Logan Peters and Greyson Vorgang all scored in the game. Sommer had three assists for a four-point day.

Joe Juengerkes had three caused turnovers and seven ground balls. Dean Scalamandre had two caused turnovers. Matthew Paollatto was 12-of-22 on faceoffs.

Michigan got out to a quick two lead in the opening minutes. UM scored first on the man-up in the game's first minute. The Wolverines scored on their second shot of the day as well, taking a 2-0 lead three minutes in.

The Scarlet Knights responded with a 3-0 run over a four-minute stretch of game time. Rutgers answered the UM second goal on their next possession, with Logan Peters on the finish. Then, it was another senior midfielder with Justin Lawler finding space in front and finishing on RU's next possession. RU made it a 3-0 run as Colin Kurdyla did great work, found space and then found JJ Aiello inside for the finish.

Michigan came back with two goals in 12 seconds, tallying, then after an RU timeout, winning the next faceoff and scoring on a fast break chance resulting.

Rutgers scored with 0.4 seconds left in the first quarter. Ben McKelvy scooped a ground ball on defense, threw a long pass into the offensive zone, and Kurdyla beat the buzzer to even the score after the first frame.

In the second quarter, RU won the opening faceoff and took the first possession. Haydn Sommer found Colin Kelly who caught and fired in a laser shot to put RU back in front 5-4.

Michigan answered with a goal from Ryan Cohen. Late in the second quarter, Haydn Sommer tallied with just 19 seconds left in the frame, sending RU to the halftime locker room with a 6-5 win.

Michigan evened the score in the opening minute of the third quarter. RU then answered with a 3-0 run. Colin Kelly and Colin Kurdyla scored a pair of goals just 21 seconds apart. Then, on extra-man, Greyson Vorgang put RU ahead 9-6.

Michigan answered, but again, RU extended the lead back to three goals, with Colin Kurdyla completing his hat trick for a 10-7 lead. Kurdyla's fourth of the day gave RU its largest lead at 11-7. Michigan had one late goal, but it was not enough.
 
Postgame Notes

• Colin Kurdyla had a career-high four goals. It was the first time he scored four goals against a Big Ten team.
• A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Kurdyla has 13 goals in his six games against Big Ten teams this season and 19 goals in the past eight games
  • Kurdyla had three goals in last years Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals and now has seven goals and nine points in two career Big Ten Tournament games
• Kurdyla's six points also tied his career-high, previously being set this season against St. John's.
• Greyson Vorgang scored his fourth goal of the season and first since March 11 – it was his first goal against a Big Ten team.
• Joe Juengerkes had a career-high seven ground balls
• Haydn Sommer matched his career-high in assists (3) and points (4).
• Rutgers held its opponent to single-digit goals for the ninth time this season
• Rutgers reached double-digit goals for the first time since March 29

 
With the Win

Rutgers advances to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, which will be held in Ann Arbor on Thursday, May 1. Rutgers plays No. 1 seed Ohio State at 5 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

The other side of the bracket sees No. 3 Penn State face No. 2 seed Maryland waiting in the later semifinal game Thursday. The Big Ten Championship game will be held in Ann Arbor at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 on BTN.

Notes on the Victory

• Fourth ranked win of the season and the third ranked road win of the season.
• First time that RU won three true road games against ranked teams since 2003. Rutgers also won three games against ranked teams away from home in 2021, counting the NCAA Tournament game at a neutral site.
• RU now leads the all-time series against Michigan 11-1
• Rutgers earned its third all-time Big Ten Tournament win, first ever Quarterfinal win (format started in 2021) and first Big Ten Tournament since 2022
• With the win as the No. 5 seed over No. 4 seed Michigan, RU earns its first ever Big Ten Tournament win as the lower seeded team. RU had previously been 0-7 as the lower seeded team.