Brian Brecht might have fielded more questions than he could count during the offseason about the graduation of his entire starting attack group, but those figured to decrease as Rutgers ventured into its schedule a season after reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time in 17 years.

Instead, the Scarlet Knights coach found himself with an unexpected hole in his offense just days before last week’s opener when midfielder David Sprock suffered a season-ending injury.

Sprock had 17 goals and 10 assists last season and figured to be one of Rutgers’ offensive centerpieces after the departures of longtime mainstays Adam Charalambides and Kieran Mullins. Connor Kirst, who played last season as a graduate transfer, also exhausted his eligibility.

“We asked him to do everything. We asked him to play offense, play man-up, play defense, be on the wings of faceoffs, ride, clear,” Brecht said of Sprock. “So certainly losing someone of that level of player, No. 1, and all the experience, No. 2, we’re going to have to find other guys to take those minutes, but we’re certainly not going to find guys to take those minutes and have that same experience.”

The Scarlet Knights, who handled LIU 15-6 to open the season Saturday, should benefit greatly from the NCAA’s blanket eligibility waiver for players impacted when the pandemic cut short the 2020 season. However Rutgers copes with Sprock’s injury, fifth-year players are likely to play a significant part.

Michael Sanguinetti, who owned five career starts prior to Saturday, is a fifth-year player who moved into the starting lineup and had two goals against the Sharks. Ryan Gallagher, another fifth-year midfielder, is a longtime Rutgers mainstay. Sophomore Shane Knobloch, the Big Ten’s freshman of the year in 2021, inevitably will draw even more attention with Sprock sidelined.

Considering the Scarlet Knights’ affinity for two-way midfielders, it would be no surprise if fifth-year short sticks Tommy Coyne, Zackary Franckowiak and Brennan Kamish wind up with greater offensive responsibilities as well.

“It’s allowing guys to play to their strengths,” Brecht said. “We’re not going to turn someone into something they’re not. But for the Kamishes, the Coynes, the Francos, the Cole Daningers, the Sanguinettis and the Gallaghers, yeah, we’re going to lean on those older guys who have been in big games to share some of that load.”

Rutgers was already going to need production from players either new to the program or in expanded roles. Penn transfer Mitch Bartolo provided it in the opener with five goals and an assist, and junior midfielder-turned-attackman Ross Scott had two goals and an assist. Ronan Jacoby, a graduate transfer from Division III Wesleyan, scored twice in his first game as a Scarlet Knight.

At the defensive end, Bobby Russo held the NEC’s offensive player of the year in 2021, Richie LaCalandra, without a point, while Kamish and goalie Colin Kirst had their usually solid days.

Brecht knows it will take some time to fully sort out the midfield since Sprock’s injury occurred so close to the start of the season. There is also little doubt Saturday’s starters — Gallagher, Knobloch and Sanguinetti — now have a bit more responsibility as Rutgers’ season unfolds.

“Everyone knows Shane Knobloch, who’s going to have to carry more of the load as well,” Brecht said. “We’re going to have to lean on some of the older guys, as well as the guys who have done it for us in the past. Those three are the three veteran guys who we’ve asked a lot of, and now we’re going to ask a little more of them.”

NUMBERS OF NOTE

6

Goals for Bucknell’s Connor Davis in a 16-14 defeat of Mercer, matching the school’s freshman scoring record. Rink Smith (in 1980 against Gettysburg), Kevin Roth (in 1989 against Kutztown) and Thomas Flibotte (in 2013 against Drexel) also had six-goal games as freshmen for the Bison.

10

Points for Michigan attackman Josh Zawada in the Wolverines’ 22-13 defeat of Bellarmine on Saturday, a program record. Zawada had five goals and a school-record five assists to break the mark of eight points, which was set by Ian King against Detroit in 2015. Michael Boehm also surpassed King’s previous record Saturday, collecting six goals and three assists.

998

All-time victories for Johns Hopkins after its 11-8 victory over Jacksonville in its season opener. The Blue Jays could reach the 1,000-win plateau as soon as the end of the weekend if they defeat Towson (Friday) and Georgetown (Sunday).