LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University lacrosse team is bracing for its fourth showdown with a nationally ranked opponent on the road as the Knights are preparing to square off with No. 19 Rutgers at noon (ET) Saturday at SHI Stadium.

Bellarmine (4-5) and Rutgers (6-2) are meeting for the first time in series history. The matchup with the Scarlet Knights represents yet another clash with a ranked foe for BU, which previously faced Duke (then-No. 11, current No. 6 in Inside Lacrosse poll), Ohio State (then-No. 10, current No. 7 IL poll) and Notre Dame (then-No. 7, current No. 1 IL poll).

ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is coming off a 19-4 road win Tuesday over St. John's. The Scarlet Knights ripped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back. Their only two losses this season came to ranked foes in Army West Point and Princeton. Colin Kurdyla, who has been named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, is the team leader in both goals (19) and assists (17). His 4.50 points per game are tied for 20th in the country. The Scarlet Knights boast the 19th-ranked scoring defense in the nation (9.50), and goalkeeper Cardin Stoller is on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List as well.

KNIGHTS NOTES
• Including this contest, Bellarmine has two nonconference games (host Marquette on March 21) remaining before ASUN action begins with a March 28 road outing at Utah.
• Bellarmine is coming off a 14-11 loss last Saturday at Robert Morris. The Knights shut out the Colonials in the first quarter and took a 5-4 lead into halftime. With three minutes left in the third, BU held an 8-7 advantage, but RMU swung the contest in its favor with a 4-0 run bridging the third and fourth periods. The Knights cut their deficit to two with roughly nine minutes left, but the Colonials countered with the next two goals to turn back BU for good.
• John Alie is the ASUN leader in total points (43) while ranking second in total goals (27) and third in total assists (16). The senior attack ranks 11th nationally in points per game (4.78), is tied for 17th in goals per game (3.00) and is 34th in assists per game (1.78). He is coming off a five-goal performance against Robert Morris, which matched a season high previously set against Detroit Mercy. It was his sixth hat trick of the season and fourth time he netted at least four goals.
• This season, Alie became Bellarmine's all-time leader in goals scored. He's now up to 129 for his career while ranking second in career points (180) and third in career assists (51).
• Ezra Moore is the ASUN leader in total assists (22) while ranking second in total points (38). The sophomore attack ranks ninth in the country in assists per game (2.44) and 28th in points per game (4.22). Moore distributed three assists against Robert Morris, marking the fourth time this season he's registered three assists or more in a game.
• Nolan Hudnut ranks fifth nationally in saves per game at 13.89. The sophomore goalkeeper is the ASUN leader in that category (by more than 4 per game) along with total saves (125). He's fourth in the conference in save percentage (.534). Hudnut has amassed at least 13 saves in all but one game.
• Joe Alie, John's brother, is ranked fourth in the ASUN in total goals with 21. The sophomore attack has recorded five hat tricks this season, with a season high of four goals against Notre Dame.
• Bellarmine ranks second in the ASUN and eighth nationally in shot percentage (.344). The Knights lead the ASUN and are tied for 12th nationally in man-up offense after converting on 13-of-26 chances.

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