PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team welcomes Wisconsin in game two of a doubleheader. The Scarlet Knights and Badgers kickoff at approximately 3:30 p.m. on BTN.
  - Mini Soccer Pennant Giveaway
- Free Admission With Ohio State Football Ticket
- One Ticket Entry for Both Men's & Women's Soccer

BTN DOUBLEHEADER
It's a Rutgers soccer doubleheader with the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday as the women's team takes on the Wisconsin at 1 p.m. and the men in game two at 3:30 p.m. Both games will air on BTN with Dean Linke and Chris Doran on the call for the men's kickoff.

The Scarlet Knights are looking to put together back-to-back wins after returning to the win column Tuesday night at Princeton. RU captured a 1-0 victory in the 59th meeting of the long standing in-state rivalry with redshirt junior Miles Hackett finding the back of the Tiger net in the 55th minute off passes from seniors Niel Guzman and Dante Perez.

In net, junior Rafael Pereira tied his season-high in saves for the second consecutive game, logging seven stops in his second shutout as a Scarlet Knight.

ABOUT WISCONSIN
Rutgers welcomes a Wisconsin squad that owns a 5-2-2 overall record and 2-1-0 mark in conference play.

The Badgers are coming off a 2-1 double overtime victory over Wright State, where Wisconsin took a season-high 23 shots, including a season-high eight on goal. The game-winner came in the 103rd minute as  senior midfielder Chris Mueller sent in a ball that was deflected in by a Wright State defender.

Wisconsin has won two straight and four of its last five contests with the lone setback in that span being a 4-3 loss at Duke.

Mueller leads the Badgers with 12 points (3G, 6A) followed by senior forward Tom Barlow with 10 points (4G, 2A).  Senior midfielder Mike Catalano, meanwhile, has also added in four goals. Catalano and Barlow are both the Big Ten's second leading scorers.

In goal, redshirt senior Phillip Schilling is holding down a .745 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average with a pair of shutouts.

LAST TIME VS. WISCONSIN
The Rutgers men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 contest at Wisconsin exactly a year ago at the McClimon Soccer Complex.

The night's lone goal was scored by the Badgers in the 36th minute of play. From the far end line, Mike Catalano passed to Sam Brotherton whose shot from eight-yards out went high into the center of the goal.

Both teams ended the night with 13 shots apiece. 

The Scarlet Knights one of their best looks at the equalizer in the game's closing moments. Former Scarlet Knight Ross Tetro crossed the ball into the box looking to classmate Rayon Gibbs for the header at the far post. The two could not connect and the Wisconsin defense used only one tap to clear the ball, which was then collected by Niel Guzman six-yards out. Guzman fired at the center of the Wisconsin net, but Badger keeper Phillip Schilling came up with the save to prevent extra time for his team.

Rutgers' David Greczek logged six saves in the loss. Wisconsin's Schilling, meanwhile, registered three saves.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION
With games already in the book against all five members of the top five through the first 10 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. 5 North Carolina. 

Rutgers has also clashed with current No. 4 Michigan State to open up Big Ten play on Sept. 9 and immediately followed with No. 3 Maryland.  

More recently, Rutgers has clashed with Ohio State, who  entered the Top 25 last week, and current No. 1 Indiana last Friday night.

It won't be very long for the Scarlet Knights to face its next member of the top 25 when they travel to No. 20 Michigan next Friday night.

Additionally, Rutgers will host Columbia, who is currently unbeaten and joined the top 25 this week at No. 23, for the regular season finale on Oct. 25.

Toughest Schedules
Team - (Opponents - Current Rank)
1. Rutgers - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 3 Maryland, No. 4 Michigan State, No.  5 North Carolina, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 20 Michigan, No. 22 Michigan, No. 23 Columbia)
2. Santa Clara  - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 17 Washington, RV Seattle, RV SMU, RV Portland, RV California)    
3. Virginia Tech - (No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 6  Clemson, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8 Louisville, No. 10 Virginia, No. 19 Duke, No. 24 Omaha, No. 25 Creighton, RV Pacific)  
4. Cal Poly - (No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 14 Georgetown, RV Portland)
5. Creighton - (No. 11 Stanford, No. 14 Georgetown, No. 22 Butler, No. 24 Omaha, RV Virginia Tech, RV California)
    
B1G CHALLENGE
Of the four teams Rutgers has already faced in conference, all four are currently ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, three are listed among the top five and two are among the six teams around Division I  who are unbeaten.

CLEAN SHEETS
Junior Rafael Pereira leads Big Ten and ranks second in NCAA in total saves (56)  and leads Big Ten and is tied for sixth in saves per game (5.56).

Most recently, the Lisbon, Portugal native set season-highs with back-to-back seven save games with No. 2 Indiana and in-state rival Princeton. 

In the last three games, the Marshalltown Community College transfer has averaged 6.7 saves.

Pereira picked up his first Scarlet Knight shutout during week two in RU's 0-0 draw at UMKC on Sept. 3 and added another in Tuesday's 1-0 victory at Princeton.

Among his five saves against the Roos was stopping a penalty kick by reigning WAC Player of the Week, Eric McWoods during the first overtime.

Prior to arriving "On The Banks," Pereira was a two-time NJCAA All-American at Marshalltown Community College, where he racked up 20 shutouts in his two-year career.

UP NEXT
Following Sunday's contest, the Scarlet Knights head back out on the road to meet #20 Michigan. 

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.