Box Score Nov. 5, 2014 Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team was able to cut its deficit to one in the game's final minute, but the Scarlet Knights ended by wrapping up the regular season on Wednesday night falling 3-2 to No. 17 Maryland at Yurcak Field.
With the win, Maryland captured the Big Ten regular season title and improved to 11-5-2 overall and 5-2-1 in the league. The top-seeded Terps will play host to Rutgers (5-11-1, 1-6-1 Big Ten), who had already solidified the eighth seed at the upcoming tournament prior to tonight's kickoff, and ninth-seeded Wisconsin in the play-in game on Saturday. The winner between the Scarlet Knights and Badgers will advance to quarterfinal action on Sunday against Maryland.
Yurcak Field waited to see if the Terp offense was ruled offsides with their first look at the RU net. Mael Corboz was just behind the Scarlet Knight defense for Alex Shinky to make a pass from the right side to the center of the box to set up for the 1-0 Maryland lead in the game's fifth minute.
The Scarlet Knights, however, evened the score in the game's 23rd minute. Freshman forward Jason Wright (Kingston, Jamaica) used a takeaway to feed senior Nate Bruccoleri (Bordentown, N.J.) into the right side of the box. Bruccoleri crossed to the left post to find junior Rayon Gibbs (Jackson, Miss.) eight yards out to send the ball into the opposite corner.
Maryland, however, was able to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. George Campbell controlled the ball off Rutgers to teammate Dan Metzger at the top of the 18. Campbell, who entered the box from the right side, raced towards goal to put the ball away.
The Terps took a two-goal edge late in the game. Maryland's Jereme Raley positioned a restart to Alex Shinsky at the top of the box, who then dished off to David Kabelik eight yards out from the left post into the opposite side in the 73rd minute.
Rutgers pulled to within one in the game's final minute with junior Mitchell Taintor (Storrs, Conn.) recording his second goal of the season. Taintor controlled the ball off a Maryland throw-in near the mid-line and passed off to Wright 20 yards out. As Wright turned towards the Terp net, Taintor had already raced out in front to receive the pass and knocked in a shot into the opposite left post.
Scarlet Knight netminder David Greczek (Fairfield, N.J.) made five saves in the loss, while Terp keeper Zack Steffen registered two stops.
"I told our guys that I'm looking for the guys to play with some heart, some pride and some passion and I thought they did that today," said head coach Dan Donigan. "I'll give credit to Maryland. They got the early goal, however I was pleased with how we played and that should give us a positive feed going into the post-season tournament. I know the ability is there with this group, they just have to consistently show it. Now we have the opportunity in the post season."
The Rutgers men's soccer team begins post-season action on Saturday, Nov. 8 as the eight seed in the play-in game of the 2014 Big Ten Tournament. The Scarlet Knights will take on ninth-seeded Wisconsin at Ludwig Field in College Park, Maryland.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- With his two assists, Jason Wright improved his season point total to 20 on the season (8G, 4A). His 20 points ties for the most by a Scarlet Knight since the 2003 season.
- With RU's first goal of the evening, junior Rayon Gibbs notched his second goal of the season. He also captured a tally in Rutgers' 3-2 overtime victory at Wisconsin on Sept. 12.
- Senior Nate Bruccoleri, who along with redshirt junior Thomas O'Rourke, were honored prior to kickoff, recorded second assist of the season and fifth of his career. Bruccoleri has collected 11 points (3G, 5A) in his four seasons "On The Banks".
- Sophomore David Greczek up his career save total to 182 in his two-year career. Currently eighth on the RU all-time save leaders list, he needs four more to surpass Matt VanOekel ('05-'07) for seventh.
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