Spring is a wonderful time of the year here in New Jersey. Why is that you may ask? Well, it has to do with a certain sport that revolves around a stick and ball.
I’m of course talking about “the fastest game on two feet,” lacrosse.
While the high school lacrosse season has just recently started, the college level has been at it for a few weeks now. For the four Division I men’s lacrosse programs in New Jersey, each have had their own unique stories this season. With April fast approaching, let’s see how Monmouth, NJIT, Princeton and Rutgers have fared so far.
Monmouth Hawks:
The Hawks are currently a modest 5-4 (2-1 CAA) and a top three squad in the Coastal Athletic Association. Coming off a strong 20-10 win over Hampton on Saturday, the game was massive for one particular player.
Attackman Ty Caffarelli has been incredible this season as he leads the team with 30 goals and 36 points. Against Hampton, the senior from California made history. Caffarelli scored his 100th career goal and became the program’s new record holder.
Caffarelli has been one of the best scorers in the nation and to see him achieve this milestone is incredible. While home is a thousand miles away from him, New Jersey has become a second home for him and Monmouth is eternally grateful for that.
The Hawks will face the number one team in the CAA in Towson in Maryland this upcoming Saturday.
NJIT Highlanders:
What if I told you the biggest game on February 8 wasn’t the Super Bowl. Rather, it was a game that was moved to Mount Olive High School and indoors due to inclement weather. NJIT was a part of that contest and they ended up beating St. John’s 17-10.
Freshman attacker Blake Piscitiello was the main attraction in that game as he recorded nine points (6 G, 3 A). The Minnesota native has so far been really productive in 2026, leading the team with 42 points. He was also named the America East Rookie of the Week a few weeks back.
The Highlanders are currently 4-6 (1-1 America East) this season and are coming off a loss to Vermont this past Saturday. Still, sitting third in the conference isn’t bad. Considering they were 1-11 in 2025, this season has been good for them so far.
Princeton Tigers:
The Tigers have been off to a roaring start this season. A 6-2 (2-1 Ivy) record is impressive, but it’s who they have played that makes this record better. With wins over Maryland, Syracuse, North Carolina and Rutgers, Princeton has proven why they have been one of the best teams in the nation in 2026.
Entering this past weekend as the seventh-ranked team in the Inside Lacrosse Division 1 Men’s Lacrosse Poll, Princeton took down Brown 20-14 in Rhode Island on Saturday.
Talent-wise, this team is outstanding. 2025 second-team All-Ivy League member Nate Kabiri leads the Tigers in points with 31. Midfielder Chad Palumbo and goalie Ryan Croddick are players who could potentially hear their names called at the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Draft.
This will be a dangerous team come NCAA Tournament time. Sitting second behind Harvard in the conference standings, there’s still time for Princeton to win the Ivy League.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights:
The 17th-ranked Scarlet Knights were the talk of the sport Sunday when they beat 11th-ranked Johns Hopkins in double overtime. It was a great way for them to earn their first ranked win and Big Ten win of the season.
With a record of 8-3 (1-1 Big Ten), it has been a fun season so far in Piscataway. Junior attackman and Bridgewater native Colin Kurdyla has been phenomenal through eleven games this year for the Scarlet Knights. The 2025 second-team All-Big Ten member currently leads the team in points with 50.
The Scarlet Knights have a chance to grab three more regular season victories in April. Potential wins over Michigan, Maryland and Penn State should easily place Rutgers into the NCAA Tournament. A Penn State win at home on April 17 would be incredible for the Rutgers faithful.
