Rutgers University
UCLA
Men's Soccer to Host No. 19 UCLA for Letterwinner Game
Oct 17 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (4-7-2, 1-4-1 B1G) will host new Big Ten foe, No. 19 UCLA (5-3-4, 2-2-2 B1G) on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
RU will celebrate its Letterwinner Game against the Bruins, honoring alum of the program in addition to welcoming back members of the 1994 Final Four team. The squad will also acknowledge NJ Youth Soccer Night at Yurcak Field, welcoming players and teams from around the state.
The contest will be available to stream on B1G+ as well as available on WRSU.
Last Time Out
The Scarlet Knights dropped a 2-1 decision to Northwestern (7-5, 1-4 B1G) a week ago, on Friday night.
Nestor Cabrera netted his second score of the season in the 29th minute but, Northwestern matched the goal just before the break to tie, 1-1. In the 68th minute the Wildcats struck against the solidify the one-goal victory.
45' | Ciaran Dalton makes a diving stop to keep us level, heading into the half❗
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) October 12, 2024
Rutgers 1, Northwestern 1
📺 @BigTenPlus
📊https://t.co/uJ0A8PqI5g #GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/UD2qG3arls
2024 Team Captains
At the start of preseason, head coach Jim McElderry named the captains for the 2024 fall season. Joey Zalinsky was selected for the honor for the second season in a row in addition to fellow senior Aidan Flynn and junior Cole Cruthers.
"Being a captain for the second season in a row means a lot," said Zalinsky. "It shows that I am more than just a leader. I am able to help this team win and help my teammates on and off the field."
Flynn, a four-year defender for the Scarlet Knights, has seen the team evolve and thrive during his tenure "On The Banks." Now he is excited to help lead and encourage that growth.
"It's a really great opportunity," Flynn said. "I am so fortunate to have been able to be here all four years and have gone through the progression. The culture has grown and every year we have become more of a family and a collective. It has been so nice to see, and I am excited to help lead that."
Although Cruthers is the youngest of the group, he is excited for what he can bring to the table. The 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year is poised for a great season on the pitch but is also ready to pass on what he has learned from his time at the collegiate level.
"It's a lot of responsibility but it's a position I have been in before," Cruthers said. "I am excited to be able to help some of the younger guys like the older guys have helped me. It's really an honor."
All three will don the captain arm band this season and are excited to bring RU to new heights.
The Returners
The Scarlet Knights return a solid 17 student-athletes to the 2024 roster. This includes three of the top five goal scorers in Ola Maeland, Curt Calov and Ian Abbey. The three combined for 10 goals.
The team also returns some core members of their defense including Joey Zalinsky, Big Ten All-Freshman honoree Nicholas Collins, Erick Ruiz and Devon Stopek.
In addition, goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton comes back for his junior season after posting four wins, 53 saves and one shutout in 14 matches in 2023.
Introducing the Freshmen
Going into his sixth season, McElderry and his staff welcomed 11 freshmen during the offseason, tied for the biggest recruiting class since 2019.
The class is comprised of four international student-athletes: Kristófer Arnarsson (Grafarvogur, Iceland), Anthony Morano (Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada), Scott Godden (Leeds, England) and Arnar Adalsteinsson (Kopavogur, Iceland).
The remaining seven rookies are from the east coast, including six from New Jersey: Graham Kois (Scotch Plains, N.J.), Matty Lynch (Chesterfield, N.J.), Eddie Krupski (Clark, N.J.), Illia Tyrkus (Bridgewater, N.J.), Dylan Carlson (Sayreville, N.J.), Lenny Aviles (East Windsor, N.J.) and Thomas Angelone (Boston, Mass.).
Godden has started the most games over any other freshman with 12. In addition, Adalsteinsson has started 11 outings, Dylan Carlson three and Illia Tyrkus one. In addition, several others have seen time on the pitch.
B1G Updates
With the official expansion of the Big Ten over the summer, Rutgers will face two new faces in UCLA and Washington.
RU will post the Bruins in Piscataway for the first time as a member of the league on Friday, Oct. 18 (7 p.m.). The teams renewed their historic rivalry with matches in 2022 and 2023. UCLA picked up victories in both meetings.
The Scarlet Knights will travel to face the Huskies on Friday Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. ET. It will be just the fifth meeting between the two programs and the first since 1998.
Scouting the Bruins
UCLA has had an up and down season until a marquee victory in its most recent outing over then-No. 2 Ohio State, 2-1. Edrey Caceres paces the team with four goals and one assist for nine total points.
Up Next
Rutgers will travel to Washington on Friday, Oct. 25. The match will begin at 10 p.m. ET. It will be just the fifth meeting between the two programs and the first since 1998.
Follow Along
Follow Rutgers men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMensSoccer). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter (@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
