Rutgers Men's Soccer Shuts Out Delaware, 3-0
Sep 11 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Three Scarlet Knights recorded their first goals of the season as the Rutgers men's soccer team blanked Delaware 3-0 Tuesday night on a rain-soaked Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights moved to 1-2-1 on the season, while the Blue Hens fell to 0-4.
Senior Adam Sternberger (Mays Landing, N.J.) scored the game's first goal in the 41st minute to help break a scoring drought that had previously lasted nearly 230 minutes, dating back to RU's 2-1 overtime loss at Oakland on Sept. 2. After taking a hit in the box, Sternberger was awarded a penalty kick, which he calmly buried into the back of the net to put Rutgers up 1-0.
"It feels real good, putting three goals in the back of the net tonight," said Sternberger. "It was my first goal of the year and it was a big confidence booster for me."
The Scarlet Knights out-shot the Blue Hens 11-2 in the first half, including five shots on goal. Rutgers held Delaware without a shot for the first 23 minutes of the game, and prevented the Blue Hens from any major scoring opportunity until the 28th minute when they put their first shot on goal.
Delaware got another chance at a score in the 38th minute when Sobhan Tadjalli, the Blue Hens leading scorer last season, fired a shot just inside the 18-yard box that glanced over the crossbar.
Rutgers had an opportunity to widen its lead as the first half came to a close when sophomore Joey Sorrentino (Trenton, N.J.) went one-on-one with Delaware goalie Taylor Thames. Sorrentino attempted to chip the ball over a charging Thames; however, his shot sailed just over the goal as time expired.
Delaware turned things around in the second half, posting eight shots in the final period, but two late goals by the Scarlet Knights nullified any chances of a comeback. Freshman Dilly Duka (Montville, N.J.) set up Rutgers' next score when he sent a cross into to box where it was met by an attacking Scarlet Knight. Junior Tim McRae (Winter Park, Fla.) posted the first goal of his Rutgers career on a header, giving Rutgers a 2-0 advantage in the 61st minute.
The Scarlet Knights were awarded a free kick in the 89th minute which set up their third and final goal of the night. Sternberger lined up over the ball just outside the box, but instead tapped it to senior Kyle Grato (Princeton Junction, N.J.), who drilled the shot into the back of the net for his second career goal.
"On a whole I liked our team's performance," said head coach Bob Reasso. "We passed the ball well, and got in behind them. I think Sternberger was sharp tonight, Kevin O'Connor was good and Aly Mazhar was also very good tonight. I thought as the game went on Dilly started to show his class and got more involved in the attack."
"It was good to see Sternberger get his first, Tim got a goal and Kyle got one as well," added Reasso. "I'm happy to have a win and it's something for us to build on now."
For the season, Rutgers has received one goal each from Sternberger, McRae, Grato and junior Adam Lloyd (Warwick, N.J.), while Duka leads the team with a pair of assists.
The Scarlet Knights will return to action on Friday, Sept. 14, when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to take on Lehigh. Rutgers is 25-20-4 all-time against the Mountain Hawks, including a five-match unbeaten streak in the last five meetings.
