PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Connor Kirst and Joe Nardella, two Rutgers men’s lacrosse products, are set to represent the United States in the World Lacrosse Box Championships which will take place in Utica, N.Y. on September 20-29. The Box Championships are a quadrennial event that features the top box lacrosse teams fighting for a world championship title. The United States has won bronze in the past five championships. 
 
Kirst was a Third Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten in his lone year at Rutgers in 2021. In 13 games for RU, he posted 37 goals and 53 points helping lead RU to the NCAA tournament that year. In outdoor pro lacrosse, in his first year with the Boston Cannons, he has played in 11 games, scoring a total 13 goals, which is a new PLL career high. He also had two assists and 16 ground balls. In indoor pro lacrosse, Kirst played in 36 games over the past two seasons with the Georgia Swarm and Las Vegas Desert Dogs, scoring 12 goals with 18 assists. 
 
Nardella was a Third Team All American, First Team All-Big Ten, and named Big Ten Specialist of the Year as a senior, in the program’s first season in the conference. He was a two-time All American and two-time all-conference selection in the Big East. After missing last PLL season with an injury, Nardella returned this season with the Maryland Whipsnakes and made his fifth all-star game. A finalist for the award for Faceoff Player of the Year, he is considered one of the top faceoff men in the world. He led the league in the regular season by winning 164-of-243 faceoffs, adding 93 ground balls and five goals. In the postseason, he won 37 more faceoffs, with 19 ground balls, and an assist, which came in the championship game as the Whipsnakes finished as runners-up. 
 
Rutgers is one of just five schools who have multiple players represented on the roster. Team USA opens up against Haudenosaunee on Friday (Sept. 20th) at 8pm. As hosts, USA will look to make a strong statement against the defending silver medalists, in what will be an exciting atmosphere. USA is bringing back five players from the bronze-medal winning team in 2019 and has put together a deep squad full of NLL experience.