PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team closes out its current two-game homestand with a nonconference match up with Canisius. It will be the first ever meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Golden Griffs.

Fans attending Tuesday's game can pick up a Rutgers soccer ball magnet.

BACK TO NONCONFERENCE PLAY
RU is coming off contests against three-straight Big Ten opponents featured in the polls including No. 6 Michigan State, No. 3 Maryland and an Ohio State squad receiving votes. Two of those games - against the Spartans and Buckeyes - were decided by a one goal differential.

On Sunday, the Scarlet Knights dropped a 1-0 decision to Ohio State with the Buckeyes getting the game's lone score on a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Ohio State entered the game ranked first in the country in shutout percentage.

Miles Hackett led Rutgers with four shots, including a diving header late in the second half off a cross from Ryan Peterson at the center of net that was blocked to keep the Scarlet Knights off the scoreboard.

The Rutgers defense came away with some big stops in the 66th minute. Rafael Pereira made a save with the Hunter Robinson shot at point blank range, while Brian Hawkins swooped in for a goal line save on Robinson's rebound.
 
Pereira leads the Big Ten at 5.10 saves per game.

ABOUT CANISIUS
Canisius enters Tuesday's contest at 5-1-0 overall and will open up MAAC play next week.

After dropping a 2-0 contest at Stony Brook on August 25, Canisius has rattled off five-straight wins and posted shutouts in last three of its last four outings. In the course of those four games, the Golden Griffs have outscored their competition, 13-1.

The Golden Griffs' shutout streak came to end on Saturday with a 2-1 victory at Cornell.

Sophomore forward Troy Brady leads Canisius with 11 points (5G, 1A) followed by junior defender Alex Grattarola with seven points (3G, 1A). Freshman forward Flippo Tamburini has also put away a trio of goals for the Golden Griffs.

In goal, redshirt senior Marco Trivellato and senior Bryce Tramuta have spilt duties. 

Trivellato is holding down a .870 save percentage and 0.75 goals against average. He is currently fourth on the program's career shutout list with eight career clean sheets. He has posted a shutout in five of his last eight appearances dating back to last season. 

Tramuta, meanwhile, holds a .667 save percentage and 1.48 goals against average.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
With four games against the current top 10 through the first seven games of the season, 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 current No. 6 Michigan State to open up Big Ten play and followed with No. 3 Maryland last Tuesday night and an Ohio State squad currently receiving votes.

RU will also face No. 1 Indiana on the road on Sept. 22 and hosts NJIT, who is receiving votes this week, on Oct. 11.

Toughest Schedules
Team - (Opponents - Current Rank)
1. Rutgers - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 8 North Carolina, No. 18 Michigan, RV NJIT , RV Ohio State)
2. Louisville - (No. 4 Duke, No. 8 North Carolina, No. 10 Clemson, No. 13 Kentucky, RV Butler, RV Virginia Tech
3. Michigan - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Maryland, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 10 Omaha)
4. Virginia Tech- (No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 4 Wake Forest,  No. 8 North Carolina, No. 10 Clemson, No. 10 Omaha, No. 12 Virginia, No. 17 Louisville, No. 23 Duke, RV Creighton)
5. FIU - (No. 13 Kentucky, RV Charlotte, RV NJIT, RV Ohio State)
    
UP NEXT
Following Tuesday's game, RU is back to conference competition traveling to No. 1 Indiana followed by a road game at in-state rival Princeton next Tuesday.

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