PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Ryan Splaine is on quite a roll! Recently, he snagged a spot on the USILA Team of the Week, adding to his impressive accolades. This marks his second time receiving this honor and makes him the fourth Scarlet Knight to earn recognition this season, joining teammates Cardin Stoller, Colin Kurdyla, and John Scarelli.
In a thrilling double-overtime match against No. 11 Johns Hopkins, Splaine played a pivotal role. He successfully held All-American Midfielder Matt Collison to zero goals, a remarkable feat since Collison hadn’t been shut out like this in two seasons. Rutgers’ defense was tough, allowing just eight goals overall—a season low for Johns Hopkins.
This is not the first time this season that Rutgers has kept their opponents’ scores low; they’ve managed to do so in seven out of ten games and have held foes to eight or fewer goals in the last four games straight. Impressively, they didn’t allow a single goal in the final 22 minutes of the contest, showcasing their defensive strength with a 3-0 finish.
Splaine is no stranger to success. Last year, he was an All-American and an all-conference selection. This season, he has gathered 27 ground balls and caused 12 turnovers. Over his career, he has racked up 136 ground balls and 49 caused turnovers.
The recent victory over Johns Hopkins marked Rutgers’ first ranked win of the season and their first multi-overtime win since 2007. They now sit with an 8-3 record and are ranked 13th nationally. Fans can catch them in action this Sunday when they face Michigan on the Big Ten Network.
In the context of college athletics, players like Splaine show how important individual contributions can be to a team’s success. With the NCAA increasing its focus on athlete wellness and performance, Splaine’s achievements highlight the blend of skill and discipline that athletes need to thrive.
For more insights on college sports and player performance, check out the NCAA’s official reports on athlete development.
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