PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Rutgers men's soccer team fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to improve to 2-0 on the season with a 2-1 victory over the Drexel Dragons on Monday night at Vidas Field.
 

MATCH SUMMARY

• Drexel broke onto the scoreboard in the 14th minute with Chris Donovan taking a pass from Patrick Murphy at the right post into the lower left corner.
• Rutgers' best attempt at an equalizer in the first half came with 10 minutes remaining. Freshman Chris Tiao sent a cross in from the left sideline to sophomore Valentino Ambrosio six yards out from the center of the Dragon goal. The shot, however, went over the cross bar.
• The Scarlet Knights had an early chance in the second half with the same combo, only Ambrosio's shot landed wide right.
• Freshman Jørgen Wisth Lie tied the game up in the 60th minute with his second-straight penalty kick.
• Shortly after knotting the score at 1-1, Rutgers almost struck again. Ambrosio's third shot of the night went wide left.
• Freshman Jackson Temple netted the game-winner in the 77th minute as Ambrosio drew Dragon keeper Stephen Kopsachilis off line to slot the ball to the middle for an open view.
• Newcomer Oren Asher made two diving stops in the second half to help lift Rutgers to 2-0 on the season.

KEY STATS

• While the Dragons led 3-1 in shots after the first 45 minutes, Rutgers was the aggressor in the second half ending the game outshooting Drexel, 8-7.
• The Scarlet Knights also held a 5-4 edge in corners.
• Freshman Valentino Ambrosio led Rutgers with four shots with Drexel's Kewsi Allen leading the Dragons with four attempts.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Last time Rutgers started the season at 2-0 was back in 2015.
• Jørgen Wisth Lie has gone 2-for-2 on PK's to start the 2019 season.
• Freshman Keegan Vedder earned his first career start.
• Freshman Thomas Brunaud made his first career appearance.

MATCH QUOTES

"I thought the first half we started off a little slow, but give Drexel credit as they were hungry for a result. I thought they outplayed us in the first half. It wasn't that our guys weren't trying hard, it was just that they played a little bit better. Second half, our guys started to be a hair more competitive. They got after it a little bit more and not think so much, just react and make plays. We had guys all over the field that stepped up and made plays. Obviously the guys that scored goals but also guys at the back really keeping it simple and limiting Drexel's chances." - head coach Jim McElderry

"I saw all the guys running towards Val (Ambrosio) because he had a good chance. I was trying to read the second ball. It popped out to me and I was ready for it. I saw the keeper diving low, so I hit it high. We believed in ourselves even though we were down a goal. We kept fighting and I think we've been coming together really well. " - freshman Jackson Temple  
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers men's soccer is on the road one more time before returning to Yurcak Field for the home opener. The Scarlet Knights travel to Elon on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
 

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