Friday, September 22
Bloomington, Ind.
7:30 PM
Rutgers University
at
Indiana
Photo by: Rich Graessle
Men's Soccer Returns To Big Ten Action At #2 Indiana
Sep 21 | Men's Soccer
Scarlet Knights And Hoosiers Kickoff At 7:30 p.m. on Friday
PISCATAWAY, N.J - The Rutgers men's soccer team returns to Big Ten conference play, traveling to No. 2 Indiana on Friday night.
B1G BUSINESS
The Hoosiers represent the fifth team currently ranked in the current top 10 that Rutgers will tackle.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off an overtime setback to Canisius in nonconference play on Tuesday. The Golden Griffins won their program-best sixth straight contest, 2-1, with a golden goal with just under 3:30 left to play in the first overtime session.
Rutgers battled back from a 1-0 halftime deficit with redshirt senior midfielder Erik Sa putting away his second goal of the season on a PK in the 61st minute. Redshirt junior Miles Hackett was denied an opportunity at net after entering the left side of the box and having his attempt batted away by the left arm of a Canisius defender to set up the penalty shot opportunity.
RU was without the services of three players on Tuesday night - senior forward and leading scorer Ethan Vanacore-Decker (injury) and senior midfielders Dante Perez and Ryan Peterson (cards).
ABOUT INDIANA
Entering the week, the Hoosiers are one of 10 remaining teams in Division I without a loss. Indiana, who dropped one spot down to No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll on Tuesday, welcomes Rutgers with a 5-0-2 overall mark and 1-0-2 record in Big Ten play.
On Sunday, the Hoosiers picked up their first conference win with a 2-0 victory at Northwestern. Previously, Indiana tied then-No. 2 Maryland with a scoreless draw and then-No. 18 Michigan, 1-1.
Freshman forward Mason Toye leads the Hoosiers with seven points (3G, 1A), while junior defender Andrew Gutman has logged a trio of goals. Redshirt junior midfielder Trevor Swartz enters the game as IU's third-leading scorer with five points (2G, 1A).
In goal, freshman Trey Muse is holding down a 0.26 goals against average and .895 save percentage with five shutouts.
The backfield is also aided by senior Grant Lilard, a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List member. Lilard was named the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week after not allowing Maryland a shot on goal in the 0-0 tie.
LAST TIME VS. INDIANA
The Rutgers men's soccer team earned the draw with the nation's fourth-ranked team on September 23, as Scarlet Knights and Indiana Hoosiers were deadlocked at 0-0 following 110 minutes of action.
The Hoosiers, who had outshot their last two opponents by a combined 64-5, saw former Scarlet Knight netminder and all-time Rutgers saves leader David Greczek set a new season-high with nine stops. The Fairfield, New Jersey native made two crucial saves off restart situations, thwarting All-American Tanner Thompson from just outside the 18 in the closing moments of the first stanza and in the final minutes of the second overtime.
Current senior Ryan Peterson nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 51st minute. His free kick from 25-yards out crossed across the goal and hit the right corner of the post and back into play.
Peterson later set up Niel Guzman off a corner kick in the 69th minute with Guzman's header at the far post going inches off target.
Towards the end of the first overtime, Indiana put up four shots in the span of 22 seconds but were denied from getting the golden goal. Ross Tetro, who appeared on Sports Center's Top Ten Plays of the Day after a goal line save against No. 4 Maryland, did it again against the Hoosiers. Additionally, Indiana's Cory Thomas hit the near post as the two squads entered a second overtime session.
In the 104th minute of action, the Scarlet Knights had two corner kicks and four shots but were unable to connect with the back of the Hoosier net.
Rutgers trailed Indiana in shots, 25-15, while both squads had five corner kicks apiece in the tie.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH INDIANA
Rutgers and Indiana meet for the 11th time in history, but only the fourth time as conference opponents.
The Scarlet Knights have faced Indiana once during NCAA Tournament time with the Hoosiers ending RU's 2001 run in the third round. Rutgers downed Harvard (1-0) and Connecticut (2-1) during the first two rounds in Storrs, Connecticut before falling 3-0 to the eventual national runner-ups.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
With five games against the current top 10 through the first nine 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 that enters the Top 25 this week.
RU will also face No. 2 Indiana on the road on Sept. 22 and hosts Wisconsin, who is receiving votes this week, on Oct. 1.
Toughest Schedules
Team (Opponents - Current Rank)
1. Rutgers - (No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 7 North Carolina, No. 22 Michigan, No. 25 Ohio State, RV Wisconsin
2. Virginia Tech, No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 6 North Carolina, No. 8 Clemson, No. 9 Virginia, No. 10 Louisville, No. 17 Pacific, No. 23 Omaha RV Duke
3. Michigan, No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 23 Omaha, No. 25 Ohio State, RV Wisconsin
4. Cal Poly, No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, RV Portland
5. LIU Brooklyn, No. 12 Western Michigan, No. 21 FDU
UP NEXT
Following Friday's contest with the Hoosiers, the Scarlet Knights have another road tilt traveling down Route 1 for a game at in-state rival Princeton on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
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.
B1G BUSINESS
The Hoosiers represent the fifth team currently ranked in the current top 10 that Rutgers will tackle.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off an overtime setback to Canisius in nonconference play on Tuesday. The Golden Griffins won their program-best sixth straight contest, 2-1, with a golden goal with just under 3:30 left to play in the first overtime session.
Rutgers battled back from a 1-0 halftime deficit with redshirt senior midfielder Erik Sa putting away his second goal of the season on a PK in the 61st minute. Redshirt junior Miles Hackett was denied an opportunity at net after entering the left side of the box and having his attempt batted away by the left arm of a Canisius defender to set up the penalty shot opportunity.
RU was without the services of three players on Tuesday night - senior forward and leading scorer Ethan Vanacore-Decker (injury) and senior midfielders Dante Perez and Ryan Peterson (cards).
ABOUT INDIANA
Entering the week, the Hoosiers are one of 10 remaining teams in Division I without a loss. Indiana, who dropped one spot down to No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll on Tuesday, welcomes Rutgers with a 5-0-2 overall mark and 1-0-2 record in Big Ten play.
On Sunday, the Hoosiers picked up their first conference win with a 2-0 victory at Northwestern. Previously, Indiana tied then-No. 2 Maryland with a scoreless draw and then-No. 18 Michigan, 1-1.
Freshman forward Mason Toye leads the Hoosiers with seven points (3G, 1A), while junior defender Andrew Gutman has logged a trio of goals. Redshirt junior midfielder Trevor Swartz enters the game as IU's third-leading scorer with five points (2G, 1A).
In goal, freshman Trey Muse is holding down a 0.26 goals against average and .895 save percentage with five shutouts.
The backfield is also aided by senior Grant Lilard, a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List member. Lilard was named the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week after not allowing Maryland a shot on goal in the 0-0 tie.
LAST TIME VS. INDIANA
The Rutgers men's soccer team earned the draw with the nation's fourth-ranked team on September 23, as Scarlet Knights and Indiana Hoosiers were deadlocked at 0-0 following 110 minutes of action.
The Hoosiers, who had outshot their last two opponents by a combined 64-5, saw former Scarlet Knight netminder and all-time Rutgers saves leader David Greczek set a new season-high with nine stops. The Fairfield, New Jersey native made two crucial saves off restart situations, thwarting All-American Tanner Thompson from just outside the 18 in the closing moments of the first stanza and in the final minutes of the second overtime.
Current senior Ryan Peterson nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 51st minute. His free kick from 25-yards out crossed across the goal and hit the right corner of the post and back into play.
Peterson later set up Niel Guzman off a corner kick in the 69th minute with Guzman's header at the far post going inches off target.
Towards the end of the first overtime, Indiana put up four shots in the span of 22 seconds but were denied from getting the golden goal. Ross Tetro, who appeared on Sports Center's Top Ten Plays of the Day after a goal line save against No. 4 Maryland, did it again against the Hoosiers. Additionally, Indiana's Cory Thomas hit the near post as the two squads entered a second overtime session.
In the 104th minute of action, the Scarlet Knights had two corner kicks and four shots but were unable to connect with the back of the Hoosier net.
Rutgers trailed Indiana in shots, 25-15, while both squads had five corner kicks apiece in the tie.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH INDIANA
Rutgers and Indiana meet for the 11th time in history, but only the fourth time as conference opponents.
The Scarlet Knights have faced Indiana once during NCAA Tournament time with the Hoosiers ending RU's 2001 run in the third round. Rutgers downed Harvard (1-0) and Connecticut (2-1) during the first two rounds in Storrs, Connecticut before falling 3-0 to the eventual national runner-ups.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
With five games against the current top 10 through the first nine 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 that enters the Top 25 this week.
RU will also face No. 2 Indiana on the road on Sept. 22 and hosts Wisconsin, who is receiving votes this week, on Oct. 1.
Toughest Schedules
Team (Opponents - Current Rank)
1. Rutgers - (No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 7 North Carolina, No. 22 Michigan, No. 25 Ohio State, RV Wisconsin
2. Virginia Tech, No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 6 North Carolina, No. 8 Clemson, No. 9 Virginia, No. 10 Louisville, No. 17 Pacific, No. 23 Omaha RV Duke
3. Michigan, No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 23 Omaha, No. 25 Ohio State, RV Wisconsin
4. Cal Poly, No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, RV Portland
5. LIU Brooklyn, No. 12 Western Michigan, No. 21 FDU
UP NEXT
Following Friday's contest with the Hoosiers, the Scarlet Knights have another road tilt traveling down Route 1 for a game at in-state rival Princeton on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
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.
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Players Mentioned
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