Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Rutgers men's soccer team (4-2-1, 1-1 B1G) fell in a close contest to Northwestern (5-2-1, 1-1-0 B1G), 2-1, in its Big Ten road opener on Friday night.  

Northwestern's offense got hot right from the jump, scoring in the fifth minute of play. Rutgers stayed aggressive however, applying pressure to the Wildcats' defense and keeping the ball at its feet, but the home team found the back of the net once again in the 18th minute.  

In the 30th minute, Thomas Angelone crossed a ball into the box, but NU misplayed the ball, scoring an own goal.  

30' | Rutgers gets one back!

Northwestern still leads, 2-1

📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/As69P8Zosc #GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/WjDbBE3YDw

— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 20, 2025

Both teams continued to press until halftime, but Northwestern ended the first 45 minutes retaining the 2-1 edge.  

After an action-packed opening half, the second showed both teams going back and forth, trading possessions. The Scarlet Knights generated multiple opportunities, out-shooting NU 8-3 in the second 45-minute span.  

However, RU exploded in the final minutes of play as Joschi Schleb had a late penalty kick opportunity but could not convert. In addition, Sawyer Koza and Amer Lukovic registered dangerous shots. Andrew Kitch then found the back of the net with just 32 seconds remaining, but was called back after video review.  

After all the craziness, Northwestern still came out with the 2-1 victory.  

Goals  

5' (NU) Aaron O'Reilly - Alejandro Martinez Santamaria & Andrew Johnson  
18' (NU) Alejandro Martinez Santamaria – Baraka Tarleton 
30' (RU) Northwestern own goal 

Game Notes    

• 12 of RU's 14 goals this season have come from newcomers. Devon Stopek is the lone returner to net a goal so far.  
• Ciaran Dalton made two saves in net on Friday to stay at eighth on the all-time career saves list with 191 stops. He is six stops away from seventh place.  
• Dalton is the only Scarlet Knights to play all 90 minutes of all seven matches this campaign.  
• RU owned the advantage in shots (18-13) and shots on goal (6-5). 
• 10 Scarlet Knights generated shots, but Schelb (4) and Kitch (3) led the way. 

Looking Ahead     

Rutgers will return home to host FDU on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.   

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