Rutgers University
Fordham
Men's Soccer Returns Home to Face Fordham
Sep 25 | Men's Soccer
Rutgers will host Fordham at Yurcak Field on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (5-1-2, 2-0-0) will return to Yurcak Field to face nonconference foe Fordham (3-1-4, 1-0-1) on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Time Out
Rutgers earned its first shutout victory of the season defeating Wisconsin (3-4-0, 0-2-0) on the road, 2-0, on Friday, Sept. 23. Jason Bouregy and Jackson Temple tallied goals for the Scarlet Knights while freshman goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton totaled three saves in net.
Take a look at Bouregy's goal from Myers that put RU on top after the first 45 👀
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 24, 2022
🎥 https://t.co/au6PNzMkWk
📊 https://t.co/3EGBB8pGkU#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/4FmcvzwtCH
67' | Jackson doing what Jackson Temple does 🔥
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 24, 2022
The reigning @UnitedCoaches National Player of the Week scores his fifth goal of the season to keep Rutgers in front!
Rutgers 2, Wisconsin 0
🎥 https://t.co/au6PNzMkWk
📊 https://t.co/3EGBB8pGkU#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/hCZ5d5P9jV
The shutout victory marks the first since Oct. 31, 2021 when the team defeated Ohio State to cap off the regular season, 4-0.
Keep it Going
After winning the conference opener against Northwestern (Sept. 17) and defeating Wisconsin (Sept. 23), the team's 2-0 start in the Big Ten marks the first time the Scarlet Knights have started league play with consecutive wins since joining the conference.
Rutgers has now stayed unbeaten through the last six games, not dropping a decision in the month of September. The streak dates back to Sept. 2 with a 1-1 draw against Princeton.
Coaching Connections
Before being named the Rutgers men's soccer head coach in 2019, Jim McElderry led Fordham for 16 seasons. While with the Rams, McElderry led the team to three NCAA appearances, including the tournament quarterfinals in 2017, and two Atlantic 10 Championships over the last five seasons. He also coached 27 All-Region honors over his last 12 seasons, including five named in 2017 and three earning distinctions in 2018, 2016 and 2011. Altogether, McElderry has coached 18 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie and 32 All-Atlantic 10 honorees, as well as the 2018 Atlantic 10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
McElderry faced Rutgers once while at Fordham on Aug. 24, 2012, dropping a 1-0 decision.
Temple and Le Guennec Earn National and Conference Praise
After an impressive week, Jackson Temple garnered recognition from not only the Big Ten, but also national attention. Temple was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and chosen as the United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week.
HE'S 👏 NOT 👏 DONE 👏
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 21, 2022
⚽️ @B1GSoccer Co-Offensive Player of the Week
⚽️ @csoccernews National Team of the Week selection
⚽️ and now @UnitedCoaches National Player of the Week
BIG congrats to Jackson Temple ‼️#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/MU56U4RaOs
The senior forward guided the team to a pair of wins over UAlbany (5-1) and Northwestern (4-2), recording three goals and two assists for eight points between the two outings.
Temple had a career night against the Great Danes, with his first brace of the season, and second of his career, in addition to two helpers. The six points marks a single game career-high.
He followed up the performance with another goal in the Scarlet Knights' Big Ten opener against the Wildcats.
In addition to Temple's praise, Hugo Le Guennec was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
✌️ wins, ✌️ National Team of the Week selections ‼️
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 20, 2022
Jackson Temple ➡️ @csoccernews National Team of the Week
Hugo Le Guennec ➡️ @TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/eW3maHP25v
The honor comes after the senior defender recorded the first points of his career, recording the first goal and assist of his college career against Northwestern.
Spreading the Love
Through seven outings, the Scarlet Knights have seen ten unique goal scorers for a total of 19 goals.
MD Myers leads the pack with six scores after securing braces against Omaha (Aug. 25) and Yale (Sept. 5) in addition to one-goal outings against Rider (Sept. 9) and UAlbany (Sept. 13).
Jackson Temple (5), Jason Bouregy (3), Pablo Avila (1), Ian Abbey (1), Joey Zalinsky (1), Ola Maeland (1), Bryan Keating (1), Cole Cruthers (1) and Hugo Le Guennec (1) have also added goals for RU.
B1G Time
Rutgers tops the Big Ten in every offensive statistic except winning goals, where Jason Bouregy is in second with two scores.
MD Myers the conference in four categories: goals (6), shots (32), shots on goal (18) and points (15). His nine shots against Yale also tops the conference as well as his pair of two-goal outings.
Jackson Temple also represents RU in the standings as he leads the conference with four assists. In addition, Temple sits in second in both goals (5) and points (14) behind only Myers. His six points against UAlbany leads the league as well.
Welcoming the Newcomers
McElderry and his staff added 11 newcomers to the squad in the offseason, including three transfers and seven freshmen.
Transfers MD Myers (High Point), Saahb Kular (Cleveland State), Nick Spittle (Seneca [OCAA]), Zach Riviere (Georgetown) and freshmen William Baker, Sam Delgado, Ian Abbey, Nestor Cabrera, Cole Cruthers, Ciaran Dalton and Dylan Van Der Walt were all welcomed to the team.
The freshmen trio of Abbey, Cruthers and Dalton have made an impact on the team this season, all recording starts. Dalton tops the goalkeepers with 12 saves and one shutout while Abbey and Cruthers have scored goals.
Back Again
The Scarlet Knights return 20 student-athletes overall and 11 players with eight or more starts from the 2021 roster that went 9-6-2, the most wins in a campaign since 2015. Notably, All-Region and All-Big Ten selection Jackson Temple and All-Big Ten Freshman Team picks Matthew Acosta and Joey Zalinsky will be returning to the roster.
Graduate students Thomas DeVizio and Pablo Avila made the decision in the offseason to return to the pitch for their final year of eligibility. Last season, the two veterans combined for 13 points, including three goals and seven assists.
Scouting the Rams
Fordham has stayed unbeaten through its last seven games, including four draws, dating back to Aug. 28. The Rams won in their most recent outing, defeating St. Bonaventure 3-0, their biggest margin of victory this fall.
Rutgers owns the 8-4 edge over Fordham in the all-time series between the two programs. The two teams have met 12 times, dating back to the 1955 season.
The Scarlet Knights are riding a five-game winning streak against the Rams into Monday night's contest.
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will continue Big Ten play as the team travels to Ohio State on Friday, Sept. 30 for a 7 p.m. contest.
