PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's soccer team made history on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 win over Indiana to claim its first Big Ten Tournament Championship in program history. Ola Maeland scored the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute to capture the victory.
The Championship win is not only the first for the program but the first in any men's sports at Rutgers and the third Big Ten Championship for the Scarlet Knights since joining the conference. RU's 3-1 win also punched their ticket to the team's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2015.
Matthew Acosta kicked off scoring for Rutgers with an early goal in the fourth minute of play. MD Myers and Jackson Temple were credited with assists. Freshman goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton earned his eighth win of the season with four saves against the Hoosiers.
In the 38th minute, Indiana found the equalizer to go into the locker room tied, 1-all.
Less than 10 minutes out of halftime, Ola Maeland scored an impressive olimpico goal off his corner kick attempt. The goal stood the to be ultimate game-winner.
Just minutes before the end of regulation, Ian Abbey added an insurance goal to solidify the win for RU off a cross from Myers, his second helper of the day.
Postgame, the league announced its All-Tournament Team as well as postseason awards. Rutgers led the way as MD Myers earned Offensive Player of the Tournament and Hugo Le Guennec was named Defensive Player of the Tournament. Chria Tiao, Jackson Temple and Ciaran Dalton were also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Goals
4' (RU) Matthew Acosta (2) – Jackson Temple & MD Myers
38' (IND) Patrick McDonald – Ryan Wittenbrink
54' (RU) Ola Maeland – unassisted
85' | (RU) Ian Abbey – MD Myers
Game Notes
- The Big Ten Championship caps a historic tournament run for Rutgers. After earning the highest seed in program history, this season marks the first time RU has hosted beyond the quarterfinal game.
- As the No. 2 seed, it is also the first time the top seed has not won the tournament since 2015 when Maryland defeated Ohio State as the No. 3 seed.
- The Scarlet Knights became just the second Rutgers program to ever win a Big Ten Tournament championship, and the third RU program to earn any Big Ten Championship after the women's soccer program won the regular season title this year.
- Not only does the win signify the first Big Ten Championship in program history, but also the first conference title for the team since 1997.
- The 3-1 result ties for the third highest scoring Big Ten Championship game in conference tournament history and highest scoring since 2010, when Michigan topped Penn State 4-1.
- The victory is the fourth all-time for Rutgers over Indiana. The two-goal margin of vitory is the second largest as the Scarlet Knights defeated the Hoosiers 4-1 in 2015.
- With Maeland's game-winning goal in the 54th minute, it is first time a Big Ten title game has been decided in the second half since 2014 when Maryland defeated Indiana, 2-1, with a goal in the 86th minute.
- Collecting three points in the Big Ten Tournament each, Jackson Temple and MD Myers both led the way for RU.
- Maeland's goal is the third game-winner of his career also he also tallied two game winning shots in the 2021 fall. The goal also ranks as his third of the season.
- The Scarlet Knights set a season high with an attendance of 4,203 at Yurcak Field.
- With a 10-4-6 mark so far this slate, this is the first time Rutgers has reached 10+ victories since 2015 when the team ended with a 12-7-2 overall mark.
- The team has accumulated 130 total points through 20 games, marking the first time RU has reached 100+ points since 2015, when the team ended with 123. It is also the most points the team has accumulated over a season since joining the Big Ten.
- Through 20 games, the Scarlet Knights have seen 13 unique goal scorers on 42 goals for 130 points. Myers (13), Temple (6), Avila (4), Bouregy (3), Maeland (3), Le Guennec (2) and Abbey (3) all have multiple goals.
- 17 Scarlet Knights saw the pitch on Wednesday night. Goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton in addition to Joey Zalinsky, Matthew Acosta, Cole Cruthers, Chris Tiao, Thomas DeVizio and Le Guennec played the entire 90 minutes.
Gallery: (11-13-2022) MSOC Big Ten Tournament Championship
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will now await their postseason fate. The NCAA Championship bracket and 48-team field will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. on the Selection show. Sixteen single-elimination first-round games will take place at campus sites on Thursday, Nov. 17
Follow Along
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