Men's Soccer Defeated at UCLA

Friday, October 24

Los Angeles, Calif.

10 PM

Rutgers University

8-5-2, 3-4-1

UCLA

4-6-4, 4-3-2

Rutgers

UCLA

Photo by: Cos Lymperopoulos

Oct 25 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Despite a comeback attempt to start the second half, Rutgers men's soccer (8-5-2, 3-4-1 B1G) fell to UCLA (4-6-4, 4-3-2 B1G), 5-2, on the road Friday night.

UCLA netted two goals in under a minute in the final moments of the first 45 minutes to take the 2-0 edge into the break.

However, Rutgers came out on the offensive in the second half. Francesco Di Ponzio netted his first goal of the season in the 54th minute to cut the advantage in half.

54' | COME ON‼️

Chesco nets his first goal of the season to make it a one-score contest ⚽

📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/W8CLLOjDvd #GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/5mIl7NvIjP
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) October 25, 2025

Less than a minute later, Nick Collins found the back of the net to tie it up with a header from a cross by Joschi Schelb.

55' | And just like that we're all tied up 👏

Collins scores RU's second goal in a minute to even things out!

📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/W8CLLOjDvd #GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/JaKuaydpkf
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) October 25, 2025

The Bruins stayed aggressive though, scoring two more goals in the following minutes and one more in the 67th to go up, 5-2 and eventually come away with the victory.

Goals

40' (UCLA) Sergi Solans - Philip Naef
40' (UCLA) Oliver Roche - Philip Naef
54' (RU) Francesco Di Ponzio
55' (RU) Nick Collins – Joschi Schelb
56' (UCLA) Sergi Solans - Philip Naef & Ander Marticorena
58' (UCLA) Sergi Solans - Oliver Roche & Ander Marticorena
67' (UCLA) Oliver Roche - Sergi Solans

Game Notes

Collins has recorded three scores this season and now four in his career. He has netted two goals in the last four outings as well and is tied for fourth on the team with eight points.
Di Ponzio's goal marks the third of his career and his first of the season.
Schelb continues to pace the team with four assists and 18 points this campaign.
RU bested UCLA in shots (19-15) and corners (10-5). The teams tied in shots on goal with six apiece.
21 of RU's 27 goals this season have come from newcomers. Nick Collins (3), Devon Stopek (1) and Francesco Di Ponzio (1) are the lone returners to net goals so far, as well as a team goal.
Ciaran Dalton made one save in net on Friday to stay fifth on the all-time career saves list with 222 stops.
Dalton is the only Scarlet Knights to play all 90 minutes of all 15 matches this slate.

Looking Ahead

Rutgers will return to Yurcak Field for its final home game of the season against Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.

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.