MSOC Closes Out Nonconference Slate
Oct 30 | Men's Soccer
Game Notes |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team closes out the nonconference schedule as the Scarlet Knights host Bradley at Yurcak Field on Friday at 7 p.m.
CLOSING OUT THE REGULAR SEASON
The Rutgers men's soccer team returns home for its final two games of the 2014 regular season wrapping up the nonconference schedule with Bradley on Friday, Oct. 31 and closing out the regular season with national runner-up, Maryland, on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
The Scarlet Knights have won their last two home games - a 1-0 win over Army in their last appearance at Yurcak Field on Oct. 21 and a 4-1 victory against Penn on Oct. 14.
ROAD TRIP ROUNDUP
Rutgers closed out its regular season road schedule over the weekend falling 4-1 to Ohio State. RU, which only had five games away from the friendly confines of Yurcak Field, ends the regular season at 1-3-1 on the road.
Among the Scarlet Knights' road contests were a 0-0 overtime draw with Michigan State, currently at No. 12 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Poll, and a 1-0 loss at then #4 Penn State, a game in which RU was able to hold off the Nittany Lions for 79 minutes.
NONCONFERENCE CLOSEOUT
RU enters Friday with a 4-4-0 mark against nonconference competition with wins over their last two non-Big Ten foes. The Scarlet Knights hold a 4-3 mark in nonconference competition at Yurcak Field this season.
ABOUT BRADLEY
The Braves travel to New Jersey with a 7-9 overall mark and 1-4 record in the Missouri Valley. Bradley snapped a two-game skid on Tuesday with a 2-1 nonconference victory over Belmont.
Senior midfielder Cody Lofgren leads the Braves with 17 points (6G, 5A) with three others have totaled double digit points on the year. Junior defender Grant Bell checks in with 13 points (4G 5A) followed by junior midfielder Jason Lesch with 12 points (4G, $A) and sophomore forward Chrisitan Okeke at 10 points (2G, 6A).
In net, sophomore Logan Ketterer and junior Shay Niemeyer have spilt duties. Logan holds a 5-5 mark with 37 saves, a .787 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average. Niemeyer, meanwhile, has registered a 2-4 record in net with a .564 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average.
ALL-TIME VS. BRADLEY
Friday night marks the first-ever meeting between the Scarlet Knights and the Braves.
WRIGHT AWAY
Freshman forward Jason Wright continues to lead the Scarlet Knights with 18 points (8G, 2A) on the year.
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, Dilly Duka in 2008 and Adam Sternberger in 2005 each had eight goals in their respective seasons.
A ninth goal by Wright would be the most goals by an RU student-athlete since Josh Gros' 16 in 2003.
His two nets against the Penn on Oct. 14 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 is second in the Big Ten in points (18) and goals per game (0.53).
BACK IN NET
Sophomore David Greczek has made three consecutive starts in goal for the Scarlet Knights.
In his return to net against Army on Oct. 21 , Greczek made five saves. Two of his saves came late in the game as Army's Sean Mogan headed in a free kick to the right post. Greczek made the save, but the ball bounced behind the Scarlet Knight keeper. The Black Knights' Ethan Spivack made a charge at the ball, but Greczek dove on top, making the stop right at the edge of the goal line.
Greczek got the starting nod again last Saturday against Ohio State and made three stops. He now needs one save to tie for 10th on RU's all-time career saves leaders list.
RUTGERS CAREER SAVES
1. 363 Joe DeMorat (`84-'87)
2. 303 Steve Widdowson (`94-'96)
3. 275 Jon Conway (`96-'99)
4. 214 Dave Barrueta (`88-'90)
5. 209 Dave Yeager (`82-'84)
6. 199 Ricky Zinter (`99-'02)
7. 185 Matt VanOekel (`05-`07)
8. 178 Jon Conway (`96-'98)
9. 171 Bill Andracki (`90-'91)
10. 169 Kori Hunter (`92, `93)
-- 168 David Greczek (`13-present)
UP NEXT
Rutgers hosts last season's national runner-up and fellow Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The Scarlet Knights will honor its lone senior, Nate Bruccoleri, prior to kickoff. The game will also be streamed live on BTN Plus.
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-RU-
