Wednesday, October 11
Piscataway, N.J.
7:00 PM
Rutgers University
vs
NJIT
Men's Soccer Hosts NJIT in Mid-Week Nonconference Matchup
Oct 10 | Men's Soccer
Scarlet Knights & Highlanders Kickoff at 7 p.m. on Wednesday
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team is back in action on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. as the Scarlet Knights welcome NJIT for an in-state matchup.
PROMOTIONS
- Rutgers Soccer Silicone Bracelet Giveaway
DOWN THE STRETCH RUTGERS COMES
The Rutgers men's soccer team is back at home for four of its next five contests as the 2017 season starts winding down. On the docket this week, Rutgers will host NJIT in an in-state matchup streamed on BTN Plus with Lou Brogno and Glenn Crooks. The Scarlet Knights will then travel to Northwestern on Sunday for a noon matchup on BTN with Chris Doran and Glenn Crooks on the call.
After picking up a 1-0 nonconference win over Princeton back on Sept. 26, Rutgers has dropped two games in Big Ten play with setbacks to Wisconsin and at Michigan.
In their last home game on Oct. 1, Rutgers took an early 1-0 lead midway through the first half against the Badgers with junior Thomas Dovell scoring his first goal of the season. Redshirt senior Erik Sa raced into the box, but was stopped by a Badger defender when classmate Ryan Peterson's slide pushed the ball to his left setting Dovell up for an open look eight-yards out.
Wisconsin, however, put away a trio of second half goals for the win. Rutgers did manage to cut the deficit to one with 10 minutes remaining as the Badgers knocked in a Sa restart. The Scarlet Knights, however, were kept away from goal and from forcing extra time.
On Friday night, Rutgers fell 3-1 to Michigan, a squad ranked at No. 22 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll and receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
RU battled back from an early 2-0 deficit against the Wolverines with Peterson heading in a restart by Sa to make it a 2-1 game at the half. The Wolverines, however, added in an insurance goal in the 57th minute while keeping Rutgers at bay.
ABOUT NJIT
The Highlanders come to Yurack Field with a 7-4-2 overall mark and 2-1-0 record in Atlantic Sun play. NJIT has dropped two-straight games with a 2-1 loss at Stetson in conference play on Sunday and a 4-2 setback at St. Franics (PA) last Tuesday.
NJIT is led by senior forward Mamadou Guirassy, the nation's top scorer. Guirassy leads the country in total points (26), total goals (12) and game-winning goals (5). Additionally, he is second in the country in shots on goal per game (2.69), third in points per game (2.00) and goals per game (0.92) and fourth in shots per game (4.85).
Following Guirassy on the stat sheet is senior midfielder Danny Cordeiro with seven points (2G, 3A).
In goal, sophomore Victor Pujades has logged a .829 save percentage and 0.98 goals against average with six shutouts on the year. Pujades' 63 saves currently ranks him sixth nationally.
LAST TIME VS. NJIT
The Rutgers men's soccer team ended a four-game homestand on Oct. 18, 2016 with a 4-0 loss to NJIT.
The Highlanders held a 1-0 lead at the half and added in three second half goals. Four different NJIT players scored in the game including Guirassy, Andy Alvarez and Rene White who return this season.
NJIT held a 15-11 edge in shots. In goal, Victor Pujades logged three stops in the win, while former Scarlet Knight David Greczek recorded nine.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
With games already in the book against five members of the top six, the Rutgers men's soccer team is currently playing the toughest schedule in the nation.
RU faced two of the country's best during opening weekend with 2016 national runner-up, No. 2 Wake Forest, and 2016 national semifinalist, No. 4 North Carolina.
Rutgers has also clashed with No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland and No. 6 Michigan State and most recently No. 24 Michigan, who returned to the top 25 after receiving votes last week. The Scarlet Knights have also tackled Ohio State and Wisconsin, teams also receiving votes.
Still left on the schedule is the regular season finale with Columbia on Oct. 25, who currently ranks No. 22.
Toughest Schedules
Team - (Opponents - Current Rank)
1. Rutgers - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 24 Michigan, No. 22 Columbia, RV Ohio State, RV Wisconsin)
2. Santa Clara - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 17 SMU, No. 19 Washington, RV Seattle, RV California)
3. Michigan State - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 13 Western Michigan, No. 20 Butler, No. 24 Michigan, RV Akron, RV Ohio State, RV Dartmouth, RV Wisconsin)
4. Tulsa - (No. 8 Stanford, No. 17 Southern Methodist, RV Creighton)
5. UCLA - (No. 3 Maryland, No. 8 Stanford, No. 9 Georgetown, No. 11 Clemson, RV California, RV New Mexico)
B1G CHALLENGE
Of the six Big Ten teams Rutgers has already faced, all six are currently listed in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Two are listed among the top five (Indiana, Maryland), three are among the top ten (Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State) and two are among the three teams around Division I who are unbeaten (Indiana Maryland).
UP NEXT
The Rutgers men's soccer team travels to Northwestern to face the Wildcats in front of the BTN cameras. The match is set for Sunday, Oct. 15 at noon. The Scarlet Knights will then return home to Yurcak Field for the final three games of the regular season with Lafayette (Oct. 18), Penn State (Oct. 22) and Columbia (Oct. 25).
Follow Rutgers men's soccer 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.
PROMOTIONS
- Rutgers Soccer Silicone Bracelet Giveaway
DOWN THE STRETCH RUTGERS COMES
The Rutgers men's soccer team is back at home for four of its next five contests as the 2017 season starts winding down. On the docket this week, Rutgers will host NJIT in an in-state matchup streamed on BTN Plus with Lou Brogno and Glenn Crooks. The Scarlet Knights will then travel to Northwestern on Sunday for a noon matchup on BTN with Chris Doran and Glenn Crooks on the call.
After picking up a 1-0 nonconference win over Princeton back on Sept. 26, Rutgers has dropped two games in Big Ten play with setbacks to Wisconsin and at Michigan.
In their last home game on Oct. 1, Rutgers took an early 1-0 lead midway through the first half against the Badgers with junior Thomas Dovell scoring his first goal of the season. Redshirt senior Erik Sa raced into the box, but was stopped by a Badger defender when classmate Ryan Peterson's slide pushed the ball to his left setting Dovell up for an open look eight-yards out.
Wisconsin, however, put away a trio of second half goals for the win. Rutgers did manage to cut the deficit to one with 10 minutes remaining as the Badgers knocked in a Sa restart. The Scarlet Knights, however, were kept away from goal and from forcing extra time.
On Friday night, Rutgers fell 3-1 to Michigan, a squad ranked at No. 22 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll and receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
RU battled back from an early 2-0 deficit against the Wolverines with Peterson heading in a restart by Sa to make it a 2-1 game at the half. The Wolverines, however, added in an insurance goal in the 57th minute while keeping Rutgers at bay.
ABOUT NJIT
The Highlanders come to Yurack Field with a 7-4-2 overall mark and 2-1-0 record in Atlantic Sun play. NJIT has dropped two-straight games with a 2-1 loss at Stetson in conference play on Sunday and a 4-2 setback at St. Franics (PA) last Tuesday.
NJIT is led by senior forward Mamadou Guirassy, the nation's top scorer. Guirassy leads the country in total points (26), total goals (12) and game-winning goals (5). Additionally, he is second in the country in shots on goal per game (2.69), third in points per game (2.00) and goals per game (0.92) and fourth in shots per game (4.85).
Following Guirassy on the stat sheet is senior midfielder Danny Cordeiro with seven points (2G, 3A).
In goal, sophomore Victor Pujades has logged a .829 save percentage and 0.98 goals against average with six shutouts on the year. Pujades' 63 saves currently ranks him sixth nationally.
LAST TIME VS. NJIT
The Rutgers men's soccer team ended a four-game homestand on Oct. 18, 2016 with a 4-0 loss to NJIT.
The Highlanders held a 1-0 lead at the half and added in three second half goals. Four different NJIT players scored in the game including Guirassy, Andy Alvarez and Rene White who return this season.
NJIT held a 15-11 edge in shots. In goal, Victor Pujades logged three stops in the win, while former Scarlet Knight David Greczek recorded nine.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
With games already in the book against five members of the top six, the Rutgers men's soccer team is currently playing the toughest schedule in the nation.
RU faced two of the country's best during opening weekend with 2016 national runner-up, No. 2 Wake Forest, and 2016 national semifinalist, No. 4 North Carolina.
Rutgers has also clashed with No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland and No. 6 Michigan State and most recently No. 24 Michigan, who returned to the top 25 after receiving votes last week. The Scarlet Knights have also tackled Ohio State and Wisconsin, teams also receiving votes.
Still left on the schedule is the regular season finale with Columbia on Oct. 25, who currently ranks No. 22.
Toughest Schedules
Team - (Opponents - Current Rank)
1. Rutgers - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 24 Michigan, No. 22 Columbia, RV Ohio State, RV Wisconsin)
2. Santa Clara - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 17 SMU, No. 19 Washington, RV Seattle, RV California)
3. Michigan State - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 13 Western Michigan, No. 20 Butler, No. 24 Michigan, RV Akron, RV Ohio State, RV Dartmouth, RV Wisconsin)
4. Tulsa - (No. 8 Stanford, No. 17 Southern Methodist, RV Creighton)
5. UCLA - (No. 3 Maryland, No. 8 Stanford, No. 9 Georgetown, No. 11 Clemson, RV California, RV New Mexico)
B1G CHALLENGE
Of the six Big Ten teams Rutgers has already faced, all six are currently listed in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Two are listed among the top five (Indiana, Maryland), three are among the top ten (Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State) and two are among the three teams around Division I who are unbeaten (Indiana Maryland).
UP NEXT
The Rutgers men's soccer team travels to Northwestern to face the Wildcats in front of the BTN cameras. The match is set for Sunday, Oct. 15 at noon. The Scarlet Knights will then return home to Yurcak Field for the final three games of the regular season with Lafayette (Oct. 18), Penn State (Oct. 22) and Columbia (Oct. 25).
Follow Rutgers men's soccer 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-
Players Mentioned
MF/F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
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