Rutgers Men's Soccer Knots Delaware, 2-2
Sep 11 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Sept. 10, 2010) – Rutgers men’s soccer used a late second half surge to come back and knot Delaware, 2-2, Friday night at Yurcak Field. With 31 seconds left to play, senior Yannick Salmon (Westbury, N.Y.) knocked a free kick into the back of the net to force overtime for the Scarlet Knights.
“We’re not satisfied with the draw,” said head coach Dan Donigan. “We put ourselves in a hole at half. The guys came out and put their foot on the gas, and it takes a lot to overcome that, but that’s what we have to do. Obviously it wasn’t good enough. Give Delaware credit. They are well-coached, organized and they have some crafty guys up top. They made the most of their opportunities. I was pleased with the way we responded.”
The Scarlet Knights were down 1-0 at half on a Darren O’Connor score. From 20 yards out in the 12th minute, the UD back blasted a free kick from the left side of the field off the right post and into the net for the tally.
The Blue Hens added to the score in the 52nd minute with a Demar Stephenson strike from 18 yards out. Taking the ball from the middle of the field to the left side, Stephenson sent the ball into the back of the net to put Delaware up 2-0.
Captain Andrew Cuevas (Wayne, N.J.) put RU back in the game with a score in the 76th minute. Junior Robbie McLarney (Londonderry, N.H.) played a ball into the back, who headed it past UD goalkeeper Conrad Rusnak, pulling RU within one goal.
After a UD foul in the 89th minute, Salmon set up at the top of the box and sent a rocket towards the net. Knocking off Delaware midfielder Evans Frimpong, the ball bounced into the right of the net to knot the score at 2-2.
Rutgers best chance of the first half came with 10 minutes remaining, as Sam Archer (Queens, N.Y.) got behind the defense and had an open opportunity on net that he sent just wide to the right. Archer got another shot off 30 seconds later that UD netminder Rusnak saved.
After more Rutgers pressure, O’Connor pushed the ball out of bounds, giving RU a corner that Paulie Calafiore (Howell, N.J.) booted into the box. Cuevasheaded it towards the net, but Rusnak made a diving backwards save to his right, stifling the Scarlet Knight attack.
Goalkeeper Kevin McMullen (Blackwood, N.J.) made six saves in the draw.
Rutgers outshot Delaware 22-13 on the night, including 9-2 in the second half and 4-2 in the second overtime. The Scarlet Knights did not allow the Blue Hens a corner while taking eight in the match.
The last time RU tied an opponent was Oct. 20, 2008 when the squad notched a 0-0 draw against DePaul. The Scarlet Knights won all three overtime matches they appeared in last year.
Rutgers continues its five-game home stand this Sunday, Sept. 12 against Saint Peter’s at Yurcak Field. Kickoff is set for noon.
