Rutgers Men's Soccer Drops Syracuse, 2-1
Oct 20 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 20, 2011) – Rutgers men’s soccer (8-5-1, 5-1-0) battled to a 2-1 win over Syracuse (2-10-1, 0-5-1) Thursday afternoon at Yurcak Field. Freshman Nate Bruccoleri (Bordentown, N.J.) notched his first game-winning goal in the match, pushing the Scarlet Knights to the win.
“This win is very big,” said head coach Dan Donigan. “Every game, every win is huge, but if you look at all the possible scenarios that will play out in the next week and a half, this is very big for us. These guys have put themselves in a very good position. It should allow them to play with a lot of confidence and a little bit of arrogance. We go on the road now to play, in my opinion, three of the top teams in the conference, but this is the best way to go into those games.”
Senior forward Ibrahim Kamara (North Brunswick, N.J.) put the Scarlet Knights on the board first in the 55th minute. Freshman JP Correa (Montville, N.J.) crossed the ball into the box, where it hit off a SU defender into the air. Kamara headed it towards the net, burying it in the back left and giving RU a 1-0 lead.
Syracuse answered in the 80th minute, as Nick Perea scored his first career goal. As the Scarlet Knights attempted to clear the ball from the box, Perea intercepted the ball and sent a one timer into the top right of the net to knot the game at one.
Rutgers would not be falter at home, taking the lead back just over a minute later. Sophomore Kene Eze (Sayreville, N.J.) started the progression on the left side of the field, crossing it to senior Bryant Knibbs (Pine Bush, N.Y.) at the top of the box. The midfielder pushed a pass to Bruccoleri, who blasted a curving shot into the top left of the net from 15 yards out.
Redshirt senior Paulie Calafiore (Howell, N.J.) saved a goal in the 61st minute, as SU’s Lars Muller took a shot from six yards out in front of the net. Calafiore made a save on the line, pushing the ball out of bounds.
For the afternoon, RU outshot SU by a 13-11 margin. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Kevin McMullen (Blackwood, N.J.) grabbed five saves in the win.
Rutgers hits the road for two of the final three regular season matches in 2011. The Scarlet Knights head to Louisville Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
