UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (4-5-2, 1-2-1 B1G) will travel to Penn State (4-5-2, 1-2-2 B1G) on Monday, Oct. 7 to finish out its Big Ten road trip.  

The match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.  

Last Time Out  

The Scarlet Knights upset No. 8 Wisconsin (6-3-1, 1-3-1 B1G), 3-1, on the road Friday night. Curt Calov, Francesco Di Ponzio and Nico Rosamilia all scored second half goals to secure the Scarlet Knights' first Big Ten win of the season.   

Wisconsin came out strong to start the contest, scoring in the 6th minute to take the 1-0 lead into halftime.   

However, out of the break, Ciaran Dalton reinvigorated RU with a big save on a Badgers' penalty shot in the 52nd minute. Dalton would go onto end the night with five saves. Just moments later, Calov cashed in on a PK for RU, knotting the score, 1-1.   

Momentum continued to trend in Rutgers' direction, as Wisconsin was issued a red card in the 59th minute and forced to play the rest of the contest with just 10 men. Di Ponzio took advantage, netting the first goal of his career at the most opportune time, scoring the ultimate game-winner in the 73rd minute.   

Although the Scarlet Knights also went down to 10 men as Calov was issued a second yellow card, the team continued to persist. Ola Maeland found Rosamilia in a two-on-one attack to score in the final minute of the match and solidify the victory.   

Upset in Madison!@RUMensSoccer knocks off No. 8 Wisconsin thanks to this game winner from Francesco Di Ponzio

🎥: @BigTenPlus x #B1GMSoccer
pic.twitter.com/xEUhGmx2gP

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) October 5, 2024

Coming Out Fast 

Rutgers has been hot from the jump this season on offense. The team has scored first in four of 11 contests this campaign.  

The Scarlet Knights also netted six goals in the first 15 minutes of the contest, including three in the first five minutes. 

vs. Northeastern – Curt Calov – 3rd & 8th minute  
vs. Princeton – Curt Calov – 1st minute, Ola Maeland – 11th minute 
at Lehigh – Curt Calov – 5th minute  
vs. No. 25 Michigan – Nestor Cabrera – 15th minute  

Calov leads RU with five goals and has scored four of five in the first eight minutes of play.  

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 10. In addition, Adalsteinsson has started nine 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 Nittany Lions 

Penn State has not dropped a contest since falling 5-0 to then-No. 12 Ohio State on Sept. 17. Since then, they defeated Michigan State (2-1) and St. John's (2-1) in addition to drawing then-No. 12 Maryland (1-1) and UCLA (2-2).  

Matthew Henderson and Caden Grabfelder pace the Nittany Lions with three goals each. Henderson has also recorded three assists for a team best eight points.  

Up Next  

Rutgers will return home to Yurcak Field to host Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. for a Scarlet Out. All fans are encouraged to wear red! 

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