Men’s Soccer Falls 1-0 in OT to No. 9 Michigan

Sunday, March 7

Piscataway, N.J.

2:30 PM ET

Rutgers University

3-2-0, 3-2-0

No. 9 Michigan

3-0-0, 3-0-0

Michigan

Rutgers

Men’s Soccer Falls 1-0 in OT to No. 9 Michigan

Mar 07 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

Oren Asher made eight saves in the second half as RU played down a man for the final 30

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's soccer (3-2-0) fell to Golden Goal by No. 9 Michigan (3-0-0) in the 94^th minute, as the Wolverines escaped with a 1-0 overtime victory at Yurcak Field on Sunday afternoon.

Rutgers once again played with 10 men for a significant portion of a game, and again, sophomore goalkeeper Oren Asher and the defense were up for the challenge. With the game scoreless, Michigan outshot the Scarlet Knights 16-1 in the second half and overtime, with Asher making eight stops and sophomore defender Hugo Le Guennec making a save off the line with a diving header in the 76^th minute.

We're headed to overtime scoreless with No. 9 Michigan because Hugo Le Guennec USED HIS HEAD!#RUMS /// #GoRU! pic.twitter.com/S0fBwPWI5q
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) March 7, 2021

Those saves sent the scoreless game into extra time, when Michigan's Bryce Blevins finished a short cross from Kevin Buca at 3:03 into the first overtime period. Freshman Francesco Scotti, making his collegiate debut, picked up a pair of yellow cards in the second half and was sent off in the 60^th minute.

"It was a tough call and I'm disappointed that one call can change the game like that," said head coach Jim McElderry. "The guys played incredibly hard and were committed. Unfortunately, it was another game where they just had to bare down, work, and defend going down to 10 men. We were really good in the first half and controlled the tempo."

It was Rutgers' third red card of the season. The Scarlet Knights have played a total of 109 minutes of 10-men soccer through five matches. The nationally ranked Wolverines were coming off 12-day layoff after a bye week and a COVID-19 related postponement. Rutgers, by contrast, played its fifth game in 17 days.

Rutgers had its chances, especially during the opening 45 minutes with the defense holding the Wolverines to two shots, both off target. Jackson Temple had a shot saved and Vincenzo Pugliese had an early point-blank volley stopped by Michigan keeper Owen Finnerty in the seventh minute.

Asher made all eight of his saves in the 54^th minute or later, including one early in overtime in the 92^nd. Despite playing with 10 men for the final half hour, the possession was split even 50-50 on Sunday, but 67 percent of the Wolverines' possession was on the attack.

The Scarlet Knights enter their bye week and return to action on Monday, March 15 at noon in a rematch at Penn State. The then-No. 20 Nittany Lions won the first matchup this season in New Jersey, 2-1, on Feb. 23.

KNIGHT NOTES

Michigan is 6-2-2 against Rutgers all-time since 2004, 4-1-2 as Big Ten regular season opponents, and 1-0 in the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan is 3-1-1 when the match is played in New Jersey.
Freshman Moussa Sabaly has now made every start this season, while freshman Cole Sotack got his fourth start in five matches. Freshman Colin Beasley made his first career start against Michigan, and freshman Francesco Scotti made his collegiate debut in the first half, playing 22 minutes.
Rutgers played without junior defender Thomas DeVizio against No. 9 Michigan due to receiving a red card in the 53^rd minute of the last match against Maryland.

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