PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Highlighted by two, early first half tallies, the Rutgers men's soccer team (2-1) defeated in-state rival Princeton by a score of 3-1 at Yurcak Field on Friday night.
Curt Calov, Ola Maeland and Ian Abbey all found the back of the net for the Scarlet Knights while goalkeeper Ciaran Daltono recorded a season-high six saves.
Just 18 seconds into the match, Rutgers' leading scorer, Curt Calov, netted his third goal of the season, this time on a great cross from Ian Abbey.
Just ten minutes later, Ola Maeland doubled RU's lead. Cole Cruthers played a long through ball to Calov who played the ball onto Maeland's sliding strike for his first goal of the young season.
In the 34th minute, Joey Zalinski was assessed a red card, putting the Scarlet Knights down a man heading into half. Princeton would get one back in the 58th minute but solid defense at the back along with timely goalkeeping from Ciaran Dalton would keep the lead at one.
With just under 15 minutes left to play, a VAR review awarded a penalty kick to the Scarlet Knights after a Tigers' handball in the box. Abbey would put the game away for good with a solid right-footed strike to put the Scarlet Knights up 3-1.
Goals
1' (RU) Curt Calov – Ian Abbey
11' (RU) Ola Maeland – Curt Calov, Cole Cruthers
53' (PU) Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch – Jack Jasinski
78' (RU) PEN - Ian Abbey
Game Notes
- Calov's score was his third of the season, matching his total from last season. He paces the team in goals and points (7).
- Abbey's goal and assist marks the first time in his Rutgers' career that he has tallied both in the same game.
- The Scarlet Knights have scored first in all three games this season. RU has also scored two goals in the first 11 minutes of the contest twice, against both Northeastern (8/22) and Princeton.
- Freshmen Scott Godden and Arnar Adalsteinsson both started their third consecutive contest for the Scarlet Knights.
- Other rookies in Dylan Carlson, Lenny Aviles, Matty Lynch, Thomas Angelone and Kristófer Arnarsson also got on the pitch.
- In addition to Dalton in net, defenders Adalsteinsson, Godden and Devon Stopek played all 90 minutes of the match.
Gallery: (8-30-2024) Rutgers Men's Soccer vs. Princeton
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will hit the road for the first time in the 2024 season, heading to Lehigh on Monday, Sept. 2. The game is set to start at 6 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Follow Along
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