PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The fourth seeded Rutgers men's soccer team advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals following a pair of goals by senior midfielder Mitchell Taintor (Storrs, Conn.) in a 2-0 victory over fifth seeded Northwestern on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field.

The Scarlet Knights, ranked at No. 16 in this week's NSCAA Poll, advance to their first Big Ten semifinal appearance and improved to 12-5-1 overall. RU's 12 victories on the season are the most by the men's soccer program since the 2001 campaign. The Rutgers defense captured its eighth shutout of the season and has rendered the opposition scoreless in six of its last eight contests.

Northwestern, who had fallen 4-2 at home to the Scarlet Knights in the regular season, fell to 7-9-2 overall.

"Northwestern is a very opportunistic team and they make things happen and cause a lot of problems. We were up 3-0 at Toyota Park and within five minutes it was 3-2 and it was a whole different ball game. Obviously, we did not want that to happen today," said head coach Dan Donigan. "This one was a little tighter game back and forth but I though our guys did great defensively. That's from David Greczek in goal, our back four of Niel Guzman, Tyler Morris, Drew Morgan and Mitch Lurie, through our midfield."

Taintor put away his first goal of the afternoon in the game's 23rd minute. Senior defender Mitch Lurie (Atlanta, Ga.) served a free kick to the far side of the box where it was punched out by Northwestern keeper Zak Allen. Taintor, however, quickly took control of the loose ball to find the back of the Wildcat net.

The RU senior midfielder then added an insurance tally on his fifth goal of the season in the 85th minute of action. From along the right sideline, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Jason Wright (Kingston, Jamaica) sent a pass to the opposite side, to the top of the 18, to sophomore midfielder Brandon Tetro (Freehold, N.J.). Tetro slid the ball to his left to an oncoming Taintor, who fired away from six yards out at the left post into the opposite corner.

The Northwestern offense generated 12 shots, including six on frame stopped by netminder David Greczek (Fairfield, N.J.). Allen made four saves in the loss for the Wildcats.

Rutgers finished the game outshooting the Wildcats, 18-12, while Northwestern held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

The Rutgers men's soccer team will take on top seed Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 13 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Second seeded Indiana will face third seeded Maryland in the other semifinal matchup.

"We have two very difficult games ahead of us hopefully. Whoever we play, we'll be ready for," said Donigan. "Right now it's a lot of rest and recovery for our guys."

KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers' 12 victories are the most since the 2001 campaign. That season, the Scarlet Knights
finished at 15-7-3 overall and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
- The Scarlet Knights earned its eighth shutout of the 2015 campaign. The most since the 1998 season.
- Second Team All-Big Ten goalkeeper David Greczek posted his eighth shutout of the year. It is the most clean sheets by an RU netminder since All-American Jon Conway recorded eight shutouts during the 1998 season. Greczek logged his 15th career shutout.
- Second Team All-Big Ten selection Mitchell Taintor scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season in the win. On the year, Taintor has 14 points (5G, 4A) and 31 points (13G, 5A) in his career.
- Taintor also collected his second game-winner of the season and fifth of his career. The senior midfielder also had the game-winner in RU's last win - a 1-0 victory over Nebraska-Omaha in the home regular season finale.
- Fellow Second Team All-Big Ten honoree Mitch Lurie captured the assist on the game-winner. The senior co-captain captured his team-leading sixth assist of the year. It was also his eighth career assist.
- Brandon Tetro registered his second assist of the season and third of his career. On the 2015 season, the sophomore midfielder has four points (1G, 2A).
- Jason Wright collected his fourth assist of the season. He currently has 30 points (13G, 4A) on the season and 55 points (23G, 9A) in his two years "On The Banks".

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