PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Feb. 18, 2021) – Rutgers men's soccer head coach Jim McElderry has named Pablo Ávila and Vincent Borden captains of the Spring 2021 squad. In addition, the Big Ten Conference announced Ávila, Hugo Le Guennec and Jackson Temple as Players to Watch for the 2021 Spring Season.
 
"We're excited to have Pablo and Vince be the leaders of our group," McElderry said. "We like to get feedback from our players and we feel both of those guys bring a level of maturity and will be an extension of the coaching staff in everything we do."
 
Ávila, a junior from Terrassa, Spain, is returning as the team's leading point scorer with six goals and two assists, earning a nod to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Borden is a senior from Ithaca, New York, leading a defensive unit that posted four shutouts in 2019.
 
In all, the Scarlet Knights return 14 players from the squad that started the season 6-0-2, the program's best start since 1985, which garnered a No. 22 national ranking.
 
"We also have some great veterans on this team that aren't named captains, but will be looked to for leadership throughout the season," McElderry said. "Vincenzo Pugliese and Nick Cruz are guys that have been around the program and have helped new players, and new coaches, acclimate to Rutgers."
 
Ávila, Le Guennec and Jackson Temple were named Big Ten Players to Watch by the conference on Thursday.
 
Le Guennec and Temple were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2019, and return with big expectations for their sophomore years "On the Banks." Le Guennec, a back out of Massy, France, contributed to Rutgers' four shutouts and an exceptional 0.84 goals-against average during the 6-0-2 start. Temple, a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, was the team's second-leading point scorer with five goals.
 
The Scarlet Knights open the 2021 Spring season on Friday, Feb. 19 at Michigan State at 1 p.m.
 
2020-21 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
Victor Bezerra, So., F, Indiana
Spencer Glass, Sr., D, Indiana
Daniel Munie, So., D, Indiana
Paul Bin, Sr., F, Maryland
Eric Matzelevich, Sr., F, Maryland
Brett St. Martin, Jr., D, Maryland
Umar Farouk Osman, Sr., D/M, Michigan
Jackson Ragen, Sr., D, Michigan
Marc Ybarra, Sr., M, Michigan
Jack Beck, Jr., M, Michigan State
Michael Miller, Sr., M, Michigan State
Farai Mutatu, Jr., F, Michigan State
Ugo Achara Jr., So., F, Northwestern
Rom Brown, Fr., M, Northwestern
Bardia Kimiavi, Jr., M, Northwestern
Matteo Bennati, Sr., M, Ohio State
Devyn Etling, Jr., F, Ohio State
Joshua Jackson-Ketchup, Sr., Ohio State
Liam Butts, So., F, Penn State
Brandon Hackenberg, Sr., D, Penn State
Pierre Reedy, Sr., M, Penn State
Pablo Ávila, Jr., M, Rutgers
Hugo Le Guennec, So., D, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, So., M, Rutgers
Andrew Akindele, Jr., F, Wisconsin
Zach Klancnik, Sr., D, Wisconsin
Sven Kleinhans, Grad., GK, Wisconsin
 
 
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