Rutgers Men's Soccer Edged By No. 6 Louisville
Oct 09 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 9, 2010) – The Rutgers men’s soccer team (3-6-1-, 0-3-0 BIG EAST) dropped a 2-1 result at home to BIG EAST Red Division leader and sixth-ranked Louisville (8-0-2, 3-0-0 BIG EAST) on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Yurcak Field.
The Scarlet Knights fell behind in the second half and despite a game-tying goal from senior forward Yannick Salmon (Westbury, N.Y.); it was not enough as the Cardinals found the go-ahead score to pick up the win.
“I was proud of the way they played against a quality team like Louisville,” said Rutgers head coach Dan Donigan. “Hats off to them, [Louisville is] a very dangerous attacking team. They’re solid all over the field; they’re very discipline and well coached. You have to be on top of your game and I thought we really were for the most part.
“I feel bad for the guys that we didn’t come away with something better than a 2-1 loss because I was really proud of the way they played. I was happy with the effort. We came out with a game plan that I thought we put into place pretty well and it gave us a chance. Again, I’m happy with them, I just feel bad for them because I wish they were rewarded with something better than that.”
Rutgers matched wits with the sixth-ranked team in the country as the two squads played to a scoreless first half. The Cardinals held a slight edge in the first stanza outshooting the Scarlet Knights 5-4 and 13-8 through the full 90 minutes.
Louisville broke the deadlock in the 47th minute on a corner kick as Kenney Walker connected with Austin Berry who headed it past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
The Scarlet Knights posted the equalizer in the 66th minute off a set piece. Rutgers was awarded a free kick from about 40 yards out following a foul on junior defender Bryant Knibbs (Pine Bush, N.Y.). Freshman midfielder Brennan McNicoll (Oakville Ontario, Canada) stepped in for the free kick and sent a line drive into the penalty area where Salmon was able to get a head on it and redirect it past Andre Boudreaux for the 1-1 tie.
RU had the advantage in corner kick opportunities 6-5, but it was a counter attack off a Rutgers corner kick that proved to be the deciding moment. Two minutes after the score was tied, Louisville tallied the game-clinching goal in the 68th minute as the Cardinals cleared a Rutgers corner kick into the midfield where Aaron Horton played it ahead to Andrew Farrell who recorded the game-winner.
Rutgers continues BIG EAST play on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Villanova. The contest is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
