Friday, August 24
Baltimore, Md.
7:00 PM
Rutgers University
at
Loyola (Md.)
Photo by: Rich Graessle
Men's Soccer Kicks Off Season At Loyola, UMBC
Aug 23 | Men's Soccer
Scarlet Knights Take On Greyhounds Friday Night, Retrievers on Monday Night
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2018 Rutgers men's soccer season gets underway as the Scarlet Knights travel to Loyola (Md.) on Friday and UMBC on Monday. Both contests kickoff at 7 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights had one preseason tune-up before heading into Friday's opener with Rutgers picking up a 3-2 win over Army West Point last Sunday.
Against the Black Knights, newcomer Jordan Hall from Mississippi Gulf Coast College captured a pair of tallies while returning sophomore Zeno Mazzucato put away a PK late in the game.
On the attack fifth-year senior Miles Hackett and senior Thomas Dovell are RU's returning leading scorers from last year's squad with both netting a pair of goals along with an assist.
Both of Hackett's scores were game winners lifting the Scarlet Knights to victories against in-state rivals Princeton and NJIT a year ago.
Several key members of last year's defense return as well, including Big Ten Preseason honorees sophomores Bryce Washington and Zeno Mazzucato. Both were among the Scarlet Knights that helped produce shutouts against UMKC and Princeton and held the nation's second leading scorer and MLS draft pick, NJIT's Mamadou Guirassy, scoreless in a 2-1 Scarlet Knight victory.
In goal, senior Rafael Pereira played every minute of every game leading the Big Ten and ranking fourth in total saves (97) and topping the Big Ten and coming in eighth nationally in saves per game (5.39). He made a season-high nine saves in the regular season finale with Columbia, a team ranking as high as No. 14 a year ago and receiving votes entering the 2018 campaign. He also made seven stops against national runner-up Indiana and No. 4 North Carolina.
QUICK LINKS
ABOUT LOYOLA (MD)
The Greyhounds went 11-6-1 overall and 7-2-0 in the Patriot League a year ago. Loyola was seeded at number one entering the Patriot League Tournament, but had the season end on a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in overtime to sixth-seeded Colgate in the semifinal round.
Entering 2018, the Greyhounds have been tabbed the Patriot League favorites and placed six members on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Junior forward Brian Saramago is a member of the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List after leading Loyola with 42 points over the last two seasons and registering 19 points and three game-winning goals in 2017.
Junior Barry Sharifi was the 2017 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year and an All-Northeast Region Second Team honoree having captured 17 points from five goals and seven assists.
Senior midfielder Gabriel Carlsson also returns after picking up All-Patriot League and First Team All-Northeast Region honors. The only Greyhound to start all 18 games last season ranked third in the Patriot League with nine assists.
Sophomore goalkeeper Chase Vosvick was tabbed the 2017 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-Northeast Region honoree. He totaled seven shutouts last year with 1.21 goals against average and 60 saves.
ABOUT UMBC
UMBC will also open up the season on Friday hosting a match with Temple before welcoming the Scarlet Knights.
The Retrievers posted a 7-6-5 overall mark and 2-4-1 record in the America East a season ago. UMBC ranked as high as No. 16 in the Soccer America Top 25 Poll last October.
Like the Scarlet Knights, UMBC played one of the toughest schedules in the country that featured No. 1 Maryland, No. 8 Western Michigan, No. 12 New Hampshire and No. 19 West Virginia.
The Retrievers lost their two top scorers from 2017 with senior Kyle Saunderson and classmate James Gielen returning as the leading members of the stat sheet.
Saunderson, a member of the backline, logged nine points from four goals and an assist, while Gielen, a midfielder, put away a pair of goals and logged two helpers in 2017.
Sophomore Glaran O'Loughlin returns to the net where last year he produced a 1.28 goals against average and 64 saves with four shutouts.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
Incoming junior forward Jordan Hall picked up a plethora of awards this summer in helping his Port City FC squad to the 2018 Gulf Coast Premier League title.
The Manchester, England native was named to the All-GCPL and All-Eastern XI Teams and was named Port City's Overall and Attacking MVP.
Hall led Port City FC with 11 goals and two assists. Entering playoff action, he ranked fourth in the GCPL in scoring.
Returning netminder Rafael Pereira, meanwhile, earned Honorable Mention PDL All-Eastern Conference status as a member of the Western Mass Pioneers. The Lisbon, Portugal product held down a 1.45 goals against average with 52 saves.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Serving as Scarlet Knight captains for the 2018 season are senior goalkeeper Rafael Pereira, senior midfielder Thomas Dovell along with sophomore defender Bryce Washington.
THE SCHEDULE NOW AND THEN
Four upcoming 2018 opponents are currently featured in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 including national runner-up No. 2 Indiana, No. 7 Michigan State, Big Ten Tournament champion No. 12 Wisconsin and Big Ten regular season champion No. 21 Michigan.
Also receiving votes in the poll that the Scarlet Knights will see this season are Columbia and Maryland.
Last season, Rutgers played one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Opening weekend, the Scarlet Knights kicked off against 2016 national runner-up, No. 2 Wake Forest, and 2016 national semifinalist, No. 4 North Carolina.
The 2017 season continued with No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland and No.13 Michigan State all in Big Ten action.
ALUMNI UPDATE
Former Rutgers forward Ethan Vanacore-Decker signed with the Swope Park Rangers, the United Soccer League club affiliated with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.
The Scarlet Knight, who graduated last December with a degree in Labor Studies, was picked up by the club after playing this summer with the Premier Development League's North County United in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
In April, former Scarlet Knight Mitch Taintor was acquired by Toronto FC on loan from Sacramento Republic FC and captured his first MLS goal in his debut against the Houston Dynamo.
Entering this weekend, Taintor has appeared in and started 24 matches for Sacramento Republic FC in 2018.
Prior to joining Sacramento, Taintor spent two seasons (2016 & 2017) with Toronto FC II. During his time with the Young Reds, he appeared in 47 matches registering three goals and one assist.
UP NEXT:
Rutgers travels to Mount St. Mary's on Friday, Aug. 31 and returns home to host Elon on Sunday, Sept. 2.
Follow Rutgers Athletics 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. For additional updates, download the Rutgers Gameday App.
The Scarlet Knights had one preseason tune-up before heading into Friday's opener with Rutgers picking up a 3-2 win over Army West Point last Sunday.
Against the Black Knights, newcomer Jordan Hall from Mississippi Gulf Coast College captured a pair of tallies while returning sophomore Zeno Mazzucato put away a PK late in the game.
On the attack fifth-year senior Miles Hackett and senior Thomas Dovell are RU's returning leading scorers from last year's squad with both netting a pair of goals along with an assist.
Both of Hackett's scores were game winners lifting the Scarlet Knights to victories against in-state rivals Princeton and NJIT a year ago.
Several key members of last year's defense return as well, including Big Ten Preseason honorees sophomores Bryce Washington and Zeno Mazzucato. Both were among the Scarlet Knights that helped produce shutouts against UMKC and Princeton and held the nation's second leading scorer and MLS draft pick, NJIT's Mamadou Guirassy, scoreless in a 2-1 Scarlet Knight victory.
In goal, senior Rafael Pereira played every minute of every game leading the Big Ten and ranking fourth in total saves (97) and topping the Big Ten and coming in eighth nationally in saves per game (5.39). He made a season-high nine saves in the regular season finale with Columbia, a team ranking as high as No. 14 a year ago and receiving votes entering the 2018 campaign. He also made seven stops against national runner-up Indiana and No. 4 North Carolina.
QUICK LINKS
ABOUT LOYOLA (MD)
The Greyhounds went 11-6-1 overall and 7-2-0 in the Patriot League a year ago. Loyola was seeded at number one entering the Patriot League Tournament, but had the season end on a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in overtime to sixth-seeded Colgate in the semifinal round.
Entering 2018, the Greyhounds have been tabbed the Patriot League favorites and placed six members on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Junior forward Brian Saramago is a member of the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List after leading Loyola with 42 points over the last two seasons and registering 19 points and three game-winning goals in 2017.
Junior Barry Sharifi was the 2017 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year and an All-Northeast Region Second Team honoree having captured 17 points from five goals and seven assists.
Senior midfielder Gabriel Carlsson also returns after picking up All-Patriot League and First Team All-Northeast Region honors. The only Greyhound to start all 18 games last season ranked third in the Patriot League with nine assists.
Sophomore goalkeeper Chase Vosvick was tabbed the 2017 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-Northeast Region honoree. He totaled seven shutouts last year with 1.21 goals against average and 60 saves.
ABOUT UMBC
UMBC will also open up the season on Friday hosting a match with Temple before welcoming the Scarlet Knights.
The Retrievers posted a 7-6-5 overall mark and 2-4-1 record in the America East a season ago. UMBC ranked as high as No. 16 in the Soccer America Top 25 Poll last October.
Like the Scarlet Knights, UMBC played one of the toughest schedules in the country that featured No. 1 Maryland, No. 8 Western Michigan, No. 12 New Hampshire and No. 19 West Virginia.
The Retrievers lost their two top scorers from 2017 with senior Kyle Saunderson and classmate James Gielen returning as the leading members of the stat sheet.
Saunderson, a member of the backline, logged nine points from four goals and an assist, while Gielen, a midfielder, put away a pair of goals and logged two helpers in 2017.
Sophomore Glaran O'Loughlin returns to the net where last year he produced a 1.28 goals against average and 64 saves with four shutouts.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
Incoming junior forward Jordan Hall picked up a plethora of awards this summer in helping his Port City FC squad to the 2018 Gulf Coast Premier League title.
The Manchester, England native was named to the All-GCPL and All-Eastern XI Teams and was named Port City's Overall and Attacking MVP.
Hall led Port City FC with 11 goals and two assists. Entering playoff action, he ranked fourth in the GCPL in scoring.
Returning netminder Rafael Pereira, meanwhile, earned Honorable Mention PDL All-Eastern Conference status as a member of the Western Mass Pioneers. The Lisbon, Portugal product held down a 1.45 goals against average with 52 saves.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Serving as Scarlet Knight captains for the 2018 season are senior goalkeeper Rafael Pereira, senior midfielder Thomas Dovell along with sophomore defender Bryce Washington.
THE SCHEDULE NOW AND THEN
Four upcoming 2018 opponents are currently featured in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 including national runner-up No. 2 Indiana, No. 7 Michigan State, Big Ten Tournament champion No. 12 Wisconsin and Big Ten regular season champion No. 21 Michigan.
Also receiving votes in the poll that the Scarlet Knights will see this season are Columbia and Maryland.
Last season, Rutgers played one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Opening weekend, the Scarlet Knights kicked off against 2016 national runner-up, No. 2 Wake Forest, and 2016 national semifinalist, No. 4 North Carolina.
The 2017 season continued with No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Maryland and No.13 Michigan State all in Big Ten action.
ALUMNI UPDATE
Former Rutgers forward Ethan Vanacore-Decker signed with the Swope Park Rangers, the United Soccer League club affiliated with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.
The Scarlet Knight, who graduated last December with a degree in Labor Studies, was picked up by the club after playing this summer with the Premier Development League's North County United in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
In April, former Scarlet Knight Mitch Taintor was acquired by Toronto FC on loan from Sacramento Republic FC and captured his first MLS goal in his debut against the Houston Dynamo.
Entering this weekend, Taintor has appeared in and started 24 matches for Sacramento Republic FC in 2018.
Prior to joining Sacramento, Taintor spent two seasons (2016 & 2017) with Toronto FC II. During his time with the Young Reds, he appeared in 47 matches registering three goals and one assist.
UP NEXT:
Rutgers travels to Mount St. Mary's on Friday, Aug. 31 and returns home to host Elon on Sunday, Sept. 2.
Follow Rutgers Athletics 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. For additional updates, download the Rutgers Gameday App.
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