PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (1-0) will begin its four-match road stretch against Seton Hall (1-0) on Sunday, Aug. 24. 

The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and be available to stream on ESPN+.  

Last Time Out  

RU defeated Providence (0-1), 1-0, in its season opener Thursday night at Yurcak Field. Dan Karsten scored the first goal as a Scarlet Knight and the seventh of his collegiate career. 

The first half ended scoreless, but RU generated several chances, out-shooting the Friars, 6-2.   

Karsten made the difference however, scoring the game-winner in the 46th minute on a penalty kick.   
 

46' | PRIME TIME PK🤩

Dan Karsten put RU ahead with the first goal of 2025!

📺 BTN
📊 https://t.co/rcLcCXXrD2#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/W00XDXqU1U

— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) August 21, 2025

Big Ten Preseason Honors   

The Big Ten announced its Preseason Players to Watch Tuesday afternoon, including goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton, defender Nick Collins and forward transfer Joschi Schelb.   

Dalton played every minute of all 17 games of the 2024 fall season. He finished the slate with 65 saves to rank second in the Big Ten and mark his single season high. He earned two shutouts at Lehigh (Sept. 2) and Michigan State (Nov. 3), his most in a single campaign.   

Dalton recorded a season best eight saves at Providence (Sept. 6) and made 3+ saves in 12 contests. He currently sits tied for 10th on the all-time career saves list with 171 stops.   

Last fall, Collins started all 16 matches he was available for. He netted his first career goal at Penn State (Oct. 7) to end the season with two points. Collins registered 17 total shots and put five on frame.   

Collins had an exciting off season as well, as he was drafted 85th overall by Minnesota United FC in the 2024 MLS Super Draft.  

Schelb comes "On The Banks" after two standout seasons at Saint Francis (PA). Hailing from Freiburg, Germany, he was an All-NEC First Team selection after recording 10 goals and eight assists for 28 points. He ended his sophomore campaign with the fifth highest single season points total in program history.   

Schelb was named NEC Player of the Week three times, a NEC Prime Performer five times in addition to a CSC Academic All-District Team selection. 

2025 Team Captains 

Cole Cruthers will return as a captain for the fall 2025 campaign after donning the arm band last season as a junior.  

In addition, Cruthers will be supported by a leadership group including Devon Stopek, Erick Ruiz, Ciaran Dalton and Joschi Schelb.  

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 seventh all-time with 47 games in net during his career. He is also 10th all-time with 172 total career saves.  

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.  

In the season opener against Providence Schelb, Kitch, Jansen and Karsten all started. Boumsong also subbed in.  

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 while Jeffrey Bryjack, Simon Gorczowski, Jaden Gordon, Joshua Jerome, Braxton Montgomery and Ailan Panton came ahead of preseason. 

Andrus and Montgomery both started in their collegiate debut. Essuman, Jerome and Gorczowski also saw action against the Friars.  

Scouting the Pirates  

Seton Hall won its season opener against Lafayette, 2-0, on Thursday night.  

The Scarlet Knights have won two of the last three meetings against the Pirates but fell last season, 3-1. RU owns the advantage in the overall series however, 33-17-5.  

Up Next   

Rutgers will travel to Virginia to face JMU on Aug. 29 (7 p.m.) and William & Mary on Sept. 1 (6 p.m.).  
 
Follow Along    
 
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