PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The No. 13 ranked Rutgers men's soccer team (8-3-2, 3-2-1 B1G) will welcome No. 21 Washington (7-3-2, 4-1-0 B1G) to Yurcak Field for Letterwinner Night on Friday, Oct. 17. The contest will kick off at 7 p.m.
The contest will be available to stream on B1G+.
To kick off R NIL x Homecoming Weekend festivities, The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by Visit New Jersey, will be open for the first time for two straight days starting Friday from 6-10 p.m.
Fans and families can enjoy the following activities:
- Ride the ferris wheel and play skee ball, hoop shot and water blast
- Test your skills on the inflatable Halloween obstacle course
- Take a ride down our giant inflatable Haunted House slide!
- Halloween decorations all over the Rutgers Boardwalk
- Live music from Owls & Lions
Fans can park in the blue and yellow lots.
There will also be multiple giveaways at the game including light up sticks, stickers, magnets and trick or treating bags.
Nick Collins Named B1G Defensive Player of the Week
Nick Collins was named Big Ten Defender of the Week on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The weekly honor is the first of Collins's career and the third this season for RU.
Collins helped Rutgers to a 4-2 win over Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 10, the team's third Big Ten victory and sixth win at Yurcak Field. The junior scored the game-winner over the Badgers with a header off a corner kick for Schelb.
Collins's goal marks his second of the season and third of his career. The defender ranks fifth on the team with six total points.
The Mount Olive, N.J. native has started all 12 games for the Scarlet Knights this season and played the second most minutes (1069), only behind Ciaran Dalton.
Collins has been a big part of RU's five shutouts this season, playing a pivotal role in the middle of the backline.
Last Time Out
The Scarlet Knights fell short Tuesday on the road at No. 8 Maryland (7-0-3, 3-0-2 B1G), 2-0.
The first half ended with no score as both sides defended well. Maryland owned the advantage in shots, 7-4, but both teams ended the first 45 minutes with two shots on goal.
The Scarlet Knights generated multiple opportunities to start the second half but couldn't break through. It was the Terrapins who struck first however, scoring a pair of goals in a five-minute span to take the 2-0 lead.
The Terps held onto the advantage to come away with the victory.
In The Rankings
After being ranked in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll on Oct. 7 for the first time since 2021, RU has moved up to No. 13.
The Scarlet Knights are one of five Big Ten schools currently ranked in the poll in addition to No. 8 Maryland, No. 14 Indiana, No. 16 Michigan and No. 21 Washington.
Rutgers is also currently No. 17 in the RPI and tied for third in the conference standing with 10 points.
In the Books
Goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton has been a mainstay for Rutgers since he joined the team as a freshman. With his senior season in front of him, Dalton has already cemented himself in the Rutgers men's soccer record book.
The Pearl River, New York native currently ranks fifth all-time with 58 career games in net. He's also fifth all-time with 218 career saves. Dalton made his 200th career save earlier this campaign against Ohio State (Sept. 26).
The Returners
RU returns seven players who started 10 or more games last season, including six who registered points.
Ciaran Dalton and Devon Stopek started every game of the 2024 slate while Nick Collins (16), Nestor Cabrera (15), Scott Godden (15), Arnar Adalsteinsson (13) and Cole Cruthers (11) also all started double-digit games for the Scarlet Knights.
Transferring In
Rutgers welcomed seven transfers to the team this offseason.
Joschi Schelb (St. Francis University, Pa.), Camron Boumsong (St. John's University), Andrew Kitch (University of North Carolina) and Timo Jansen (University of Albany) all joined the team this spring while Logan Brown (Clemson), Dan Karsten (Lipscomb) and Amer Lukovic (Montclair State) came "On The Banks" during the summer.
Schelb (7), Karsten (5), Kitch (3), Boumsong (3) and Lukovic (1) have all found the back of the net for the Scarlet Knights so far this campaign. In addition, Jansen has recorded two assists while playing a big role in the midfield.
Introducing the Freshmen
McElderry and his staff also brought in a big freshmen class of nine players. Jude Essuman, Cedric Lemaire and Jack Andrus joined the Scarlet Knights earlier in the spring of 2025 while Jeffrey Bryjack, Simon Gorczowski, Jaden Gordon, Joshua Jerome, Braxton Montgomery and Ailan Panton came ahead of preseason.
Montgomery and Andrus have started all 12 games on the backline, respectively. Jude Essuman and Joshua Jerome have each found the back of the net as well.
Scouting the Huskies
Washington has come out on top in its last three outings, including a 3-0 win in its most recent contest against then-No. 12 Indiana.
Richie Aman leads the Huskies with five points, recording three goals and nine assists. Zach Ramsey paces the team with five scores.
Up Next
Rutgers will go to the west coast to face UCLA on Friday, Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. ET.
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.
