Duka Guides Rutgers Men's Soccer Past Syracuse, 3-2
Oct 11 | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore Dilly Duka (Montville, N.J.) scored two goals and assisted on the game-winner as the Rutgers men’s soccer team (5-4-3, 2-3-2 BIG EAST) earned a hard-fought 3-2 result in the first overtime at Red Division foe Syracuse (5-4-3, 2-4-1 BIG EAST) on Saturday night at SU Soccer Stadium.
“This was a big win for our boys,” said head coach Bob Reasso. “Dilly was absolutely exceptional and I thought he was in a different class tonight. We were down 1-0 at halftime and Dilly took the game over. For the balance of the play we were the better team and it was a well-deserved win for us.”
With the win, Rutgers picked up three valuable points in the conference standings and maintains its bid for a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Syracuse got out to a one-goal lead in the fifth minute of the contest with a score from Pete Rowley on a set piece. Both teams continued to battle through the remainder of the first half as the Orange held on to their advantage going into the intermission.
The Scarlet Knights responded to the early deficit following the halftime break with a score of their own as Duka, the team’s leading goal scorer, netted a point in the 58th minute off an assist from freshman Bryant Knibbs (Pine Bush, N.Y.). The goal was Duka’s seventh of the season, while the assist was the first Knibbs’ collegiate career.
Duka added his second goal of the contest and eighth of the year to help the Scarlet Knights pull ahead in the 66th minute. The talented sophomore drilled a shot from short range to make the score 2-1 on the unassisted goal.
The seesaw nature of the game continued right up to the final minute as Syracuse found the back of the net in the 89th to even the score at 2-2. Kyle Hall found Spencer Schomaker unmarked on the far post for the game-tying goal.
“Give Syracuse credit they are a great team,” said Reasso. “They are well-coached and it was a terrific soccer game. They showed a lot of courage to battle back and tie the game in the 89th minute which could have deflated us but I’m very proud of the way our guys continued to fight and get the win.”
Rutgers held a 20-13 edge in shots for the game, forcing Orange goalkeeper Robert Cavicchia into making nine saves. The barrage of shot opportunities paid off for the Scarlet Knights in the overtime period as they notched the game-winner in the 98th minute.
Duka, who increased his team-leading goal total with two scores in regulation, this time found a teammate and allowed them to do the rest. Duka dribbled past a pair of defenders where he found Sam Archer (Queens, N.Y.) in the box and the freshman buried the game-winner with his second goal of the season.
The Scarlet Knights will next be in action on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when they travel to Princeton for a 7:30 p.m. tilt at Roberts Stadium.
