PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse's Colin Kurdyla was selected to play for his country, as he was named to the Team USA U-20 Squad. Kurdyla will travel to Jeju Island, Korea for the 20-team event, which takes place from August 15-24.
Kurdyla made the squad after competing in tryouts and multiple training camps. He adds to the RU history of players competing in the World Lacrosse Championships. Shane Knobloch previously competed with Team USA at the 2022 U21 championship, while Ross Scott competed for Team Canada at that event.
The U.S. will open its schedule on August 15 with a pool play game against Canada and will also have pool play games against Australia and the Haudenosaunee. All four participants from Pool A will automatically advance to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs which begin on August 21. The gold medal game is scheduled for August 24.
Colin Kurdyla Practices with Team USA In Advance of Traveling to Korea
Pool Play Schedule - Team USA
Game 1 vs. Canada: Friday August 15, 10 PM Eastern Time
Game 2 vs. Haudenosaunee: Saturday August 16, 10 PM Eastern Time
Game 3 vs. Australia: Tuesday, August 19, 3 AM Eastern Time
Playoffs - August 20-22
Placement Games - August 22-24
Kurdyla last season earned his first All-American recognition and was named a Second Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Tournament team selection. The sophomore from Bridgewater, N.J., who was also a Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch, led the team with 27 goals and 40 assists, while also posting 13 assists, second on the team. He was seventh in the Big Ten in goals per game and ninth in points per game.
Kurdyla also posted nine goals and 13 points in the five Big Ten regular season conference games, fifth in the league, and added six more goals in the conference tournament, giving him 15 goals across the last seven games of the year, and 21 goals in the final nine contests.
A winner of the Werblin Award and an Academic All-Big Ten selection, Kurdyla has played in 30 games across his first two seasons as a Scarlet Knight. In that time, he has scored 47 goals and added 23 assists for 70 points.
Kurdyla will have a new offensive coordinator this upcoming season. Scott Bieda, also a native of Bridgewater, N.J., joins the staff to mentor the offense.
