Scarlet Knights Host No. 19 Northwestern
Oct 17 | Men's Soccer
TRAFFIC ALERT: Fans coming to Saturday's game are advised to use the Campus Rd. exit from Route 18. The River Rd. entrance to Busch Campus will be closed for an event at High Point Solutions Stadium.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team takes on its fourth Top 25 Big Ten opponent of the season when the Scarlet Knights welcome the No. 19 Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
BACK TO B1G ACTION
The Rutgers men's soccer team takes on Northwestern in the third game of a four game homestand on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Scarlet Knights are back to Big Ten play after a 4-1 win over Penn in nonconference action on Tuesday night.
It will be Junior Knights Day against the Wildcats with the first 150 Junior Knights receiving a free youth scarf.
BACK TO THE WIN COLUMN
RU ended a six-game winless streak on Tuesday night with a 4-1 victory over Penn. The four goals were the most by the squad since 3-2 overtime win at Wisconsin on Sept.12
The Quakers took a 1-0 lead in the game's 18th minute, but sophomore Erik Sa tied the game up before the intermission off a free kick.
The Scarlet Knights added three more goals in second half play with JP Correa netting the game-winner on RU's first penalty kick of the year and leading scorer Jason Wright adding in two insurance goals.
WRIGHT AWAY
Freshman forward Jason Wright continues to lead the Scarlet Knights after adding a pair of goals on Tuesday night against Penn with 16 points (7G, 2A) on the year.
His two nets against the Quakers marked his third two-goal game output. Wright also had both goals in RU's 2-1 win over Lafayette and both Scarlet Knight goals in the setback to Princeton last week.
Wright needs one more goal to match RU's highest goal total by a Scarlet Knight in the last 12 seasons. Former Scarlet Knight and recent Coursen Award winner Kene Eze in 2012 and 2013 and Adam Sternberger in 2005 each had eight goals in their respective seasons.
PENALTY PLAY
JP Correa recorded his second game-winner of the season and fourth of his career by landing RU's first penalty kick into the back of the Penn net on Tuesday night.
Correa, who is RU's second leading scorer with seven points (3G, 1A), had his first game-winner of the 2014 campaign in the 3-2 overtime victory at Wisconsin on Sept. 12. It gave Rutgers its first ever Big Ten victory in any sport.
NEW IN NET
Sophomore Mitchell Walier made his fourth appearance of the season in net and second career start for the Scarlet Knights on Tuesday against Penn.The sophomore Scarlet Knight played all 90 minutes and logged a career-high seven saves.
His seven saves against the Quakers bested his previous high captured in the previous game against Michigan. Walier made six stops playing the final 45 minutes against the Wolverines last Saturday.
Walier earned his first career start in goal in RU's 0-0 draw with No. 16 Michigan State on Sept. 28 and played the final 20 minutes of last Tuesday's matchup with Princeton. In both contests, he captured four saves.
Walier also played in goal last season against Hofstra, making one stop in playing the entire second half.
In his five career appearances, the sophomore Scarlet Knight has 21 saves.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats, ranked 19th in this week's Continental Tire/NSCAA Poll, make their way to Yurcak Field brining a 6-2-4 overall mark and 1-2-2 Big Ten record into the game. Northwestern just had a six-game unbeaten streak come to end on Tuesday night in a 1-0 loss to reigning champion and No. 11 Notre Dame.
Junior forward Joey Calistri and junior midfielder Cole Missimo have both racked up 10 points thus far stemming from four goals and a pair of assists. They currently tied for sixth in the Big Ten in goals per game. Brandon Medina follows on the stat sheet with six points (1G, 4A).
In goal, senior Tyler Miller has helped his squad to seven shutouts sporting league second-best a 0.54 goals against average and .863 save percentage.
ALL-TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
Saturday marks the first ever meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Wildcats on the pitch. The first 500 fans can receive a free USA Block R Magnet.
UP NEXT
The Rutgers men's soccer team closes out it current homestand with a meeting against Army on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMensSoccer) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
-RU-
