Celebrating Excellence: 2025 Men’s Lacrosse Team Awards Unveiled at Rutgers University Athletic Banquet

Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse Celebrates Alumni Weekend

Rutgers men’s lacrosse had a vibrant Homecoming Weekend, reuniting alumni with a series of exciting events. The weekend kicked off with the annual Alumni Game on Friday, followed by a gathering during the football game, and wrapped up with a team banquet on Sunday to honor last year’s seniors.

Awards were presented to highlight outstanding player achievements.

Al Twitchell Award
This award went to JJ Aiello, a freshman attackman. He was a key player, starting all 16 games and scoring 11 goals alongside 13 assists. He earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and received recognition twice as Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Alfred Sasser Trophy
Haydn Sommer was recognized with this trophy for having the most assists—15 in total. Sommer also made the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, impressing fans with his strong performance.

Doc Peterson Award
This award honors a player balancing academics and athletics. This year, Matthew Paolatto, a faceoff specialist, took home the award. He was named an All-American and won 59% of his faceoffs, contributing significantly to the team’s success.

Frederick Fitch Trophy
Dean Scalamandre received this trophy for showing the greatest improvement. As a key defensive player, he had a notable season with 12 ground balls and nine caused turnovers.

Rutgers Lacrosse Knight Cup
This award was given to Joe Juengerkes for his leadership and dedication to his teammates. His impressive stats included 55 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers, earning him multiple All-American honors.

Robert Collet Trophy
Ben McKelvy was recognized for his dedication and spirit. A strong performer on defense, he played in all 16 games and was acknowledged as an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Tom Hayes Award
The most impactful senior award went to Tommy Mendyke, a team captain with a strong record of achievements, including 34 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.

William Miller Trophy
This award celebrated Cardin Stoller, a standout goalkeeper. He boasted an impressive 8.85 goals-against average, ranking him among the best in the nation, and was named the national Player of the Week after a remarkable game against Maryland.

Rutgers also celebrated academic success with two special awards:

• The Collins Award for the greatest GPA improvement went to Conor Udovich.
• The Campbell Sode Scholar Athlete Award, for the highest GPA, was presented to Justin Lawler.

As the Scarlet Knights prepare for their fall scrimmage against Yale and Providence, the energy from the weekend lingers. The ivy-covered walls of Rutgers continue to host a tradition of excellence in both sports and academics.

For more details and updates on Rutgers Lacrosse, check out their official site here.

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