PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (3-5-1, 0-2 B1G) will return home to Yurcak Field to host No. 25 Michigan (5-0-3, 1-0-2 B1G) on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights will celebrate Senior Day after the game and NJ Youth Soccer Day.
The contest will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and available on WRSU.
Last Time Out
RU couldn't get past then-No. 7 Ohio State (7-0-1, 2-0 B1G) on Sunday night, falling 3-0.
The Buckeyes scored once in the first half and followed up with two second half goals to secure the victory.
Coming Out Fast
Rutgers has been hot from the jump this season on offense. The team has scored first in four of nine 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 nine games this season while ArnarAdalsteinsson has started seven, Dylan Carlson three and Illia Tyrkus one. Several others have also 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 Wolverines
Michigan has yet to drop a game all season, recording five wins and three ties. They have tied in their last two outings to the new additions to the conference, Washington (1-1) and UCLA (3-3).
Jason Bucknor currently paces the Wolverines with four goals while Bryce Blevins and Beto Soto pace the squad with 11 points apiece.
Up Next
Rutgers will go on another two-match road trip to Wisconsin (Friday, Oct. 4) and Penn State (Monday, Oct. 7).
Follow Along
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