Rutgers Opens at Home Against Lehigh Friday
Aug 31 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ - The Rutgers men's soccer team (0-2) is preparing for its first home match of the season against Lehigh (1-0) Friday, Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m. The Scarlet Knights head into Friday's match with a 0-2 record after dropping two matches at San Diego and San Diego State in their opening weekend.
Lehigh won its first match of the season, 1-0, over Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday, Aug. 26. Rutgers is 24-20-4 (.542) all-time against the Mountain Hawks, with RU winning the two teams' previous match, 2-0, on Oct. 27, 2004, in Piscataway.
Head coach Bob Reasso and his team are looking forward to their first home match.
"I think the boys are looking forward to being home this weekend and I know I am," Reasso said. "We're going to give it our best against Lehigh."
While the team lost its two matches on the West Coast, the Scarlet Knights had opportunities to win both. Rutgers dropped the first game, 2-0, and was narrowly defeated in overtime at San Diego State, 1-0. Seniors Nick LaBrocca (Howell, NJ) and Brinker Dailey (Alpharetta, GA) were named to the All-Tournament Team and Reasso has been impressed with senior Bart Koffeman's (The Hague, Netherlands) consistent play at center back.
Reasso, now in his 26th year as the head coach of the Scarlet Knights, has little doubt his team will bounce back from its West Coast losses.
"We should have been a better team but I think you always find out more about your team when you face adversity. We have a great deal of character in our program and this group is very focused. I think we'll respond to it [the two losses] in the right way."
Following Friday's match against Lehigh, the Scarlet Knights will have nearly a week off before they travel to face their next opponent, BIG EAST rival UConn, Friday, Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m.
