Men's Soccer Defeats Michigan State in Regular Season Finale

Sunday, November 3

East Lansing, Mich.

1 p.m.

Rutgers

6-9-2, 3-6-1

Michigan State

5-7-4, 4-4-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Rutgers	0	1	1
Michigan St.	0	0	0

Photo by: Mike Lawrence

Men's Soccer Defeats Michigan State in Regular Season Finale

Nov 03 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PISCATWAY, N.J. – A late goal from Francesco Di Ponzio lifted Rutgers men's soccer (6-9-2, 3-6-1 B1G) over Michigan State (5-7-4, 4-4-2 B1G), 1-0, in the final game of the 2024 regular season on Sunday afternoon.

After much back and forth throughout the entire contest, Di Ponzio found the back of the net in the 83rd minute with help from Cole Cruthers and Nico Rosamilia.

Francesco Di Ponzio gets the win for Rutgers in their last match of the regular season 🙌#B1GMSoccer x @RUMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/pM5FIIjkAz
— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) November 3, 2024

The Spartans did have an opportunity in the 90th minute, earned a penalty kick with seconds left after a hand ball in the box. However, the opposition did not convert, and the Scarlet Knights came away with the victory.

Ciaran Dalton had a strong outing between the pipes, as he recorded his second shutout of 2024, making three saves against MSU.

Goals

83' (RU) Francesco Di Ponzio – Cole Cruthers and Nico Rosamilia

Game Notes

RU finished the 2024 season strong, winning its last two games and ending with three Big Ten decisions.
Di Ponzio's goal is his second of the season and second game-winner. He scored the deciding goal at then-No. 25 Wisconsin (Oct. 4) for two of the team's three Big Ten wins. He ends his sophomore season with five points.
Rosamilia has registered points in back-to-back games with a goal against Maryland (Oct. 29) and his first assist of the slate against Michigan State. He still ranks fourth on the team with seven points.
Cruthers' helper marks his second of the season and he ends his junior year with two points.
Dalton recorded his sixth career shutout at MSU on Sunday. In addition, he ends the campaign with 65 total saves, the highest total in his three years "On The Banks."
The 1-0 victory signifies just the second win in program history over Michigan State as Rutgers also came out on top in 2021 (2-0).
Freshmen Scott Godden made hid 14th start for RU while Arnar Adalsteinsson started his 13th outing.
Other rookies in Dylan Carlson and Matty Lynch also got on the pitch.

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.