PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (3–3) will open Big Ten play against Indiana (1–2–2) on Friday, Sept. 13 at Yurcak Field.  

All fans are encouraged to wear black for a Black Our of Yurcak Field. Admission is free for all.  

The match will be available to stream on B1G+ and you can listen live on WRSU.  

Last Time Out  

The Scarlet Knights were defeated by then-#22 Seton Hall (5-0) on Monday night, 3-1.  

Before halftime, the Pirates capitalized with two goals to take the lead.  

In the 73rd minute, Ola Maeland kept on a through ball, going around the SHU goalkeeper to net his second score of the season.  
 

73' | Never give up.

#22 Seton Hall 2, Rutgers 1

📺 @BigTenPlus
📊 https://t.co/CXJkfJOxpk #GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/Z7N0u7985r

— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 10, 2024

With one minute left in the game, Seton Hall found the back of the net one more time, to cap the 3-1 victory. 

Coming Out Fast 

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

The Scarlet Knights also netted five goals in the first 11 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  

Calov leads RU with four goals through four games and has scored all of them 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 is the only freshman to start all six games this season while Adalsteinsson has started five and Dylan Carlson three. Several others have also seen time on the pitch.  

Nonconference Schedule 

Having already faced six nonconference foes, the Scarlet Knights will face one more before diving into Big Ten play.  

Having already faced Northeastern, Delaware, Princeton, Lehigh, Providence and Seton Hall, Yale is the only non-league opponent left.  

While multiple teams made runs in their respective conference tournaments, Yale won the Ivy League and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  

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 Hoosiers 

Indiana has struggled to start off the season, picking up their only win so far over Yale (2-0). The team dropped its season opener to Saint Louis (2-0) and tied then-No. 8 Notre Dame (2-2) and Butler (1-1).  

Senior veteran Tommy Mihalic leads the Hoosier with three goals and seven points through five contests this season.  

Up Next  

Rutgers will round out the nonconference schedule on the road at Yale on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. The contest will take place at Reese Stadium. 

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.