Rutgers
6-6-1, 4-3-0
Indiana
11-1-2, 4-1-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rutgers | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Men's Soccer Pulls Off Historic Upsets Over No. 2 Indiana, 1-0
Oct 16 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ā Rutgers men's soccer (6-6-1, 4-3-0 B1G) earned a signature victory on Friday night, handing No. 2 Indiana (11-1-2, 4-1-1 B1G) its first loss of the season, 1-0, behind a second-half goal from Francesco Di Ponzio and a strong defensive performance from the Scarlet Knights.Ā
After a scoreless opening half, Rutgers broke through as DiPonzio stayed with his initial blocked shot, gathered the rebound and finished with his right foot to the far post past the Indiana goalkeeper. The Scarlet Knights held off the Hoosiers the rest of the way to secure the shutout victory over the nation's No. 2 team.Ā Ā
Ā
72' | Stayed with it for the score š¤© šŗ B1G+ š https://t.co/7gdCPzrSiG #GoRU | #RUMS https://t.co/BUoLxBhgcf
ā Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) October 17, 2026
The win marked Rutgers' first victory over Indiana since the 2022 Big Ten Championship game, when the Scarlet Knights defeated the Hoosiers, 3-1, at Yurcak Field.Ā
GoalsĀ
72' (RU) Francesco Di Ponzio Ā
Knight NotesĀ Ā
- The victory over No. 2 Indiana marks the highest-ranked win of the Jim McElderry era.Ā
- Rutgers also defeated No. 3 Ohio State, 2-1, on the road in September, giving the Scarlet Knights wins over two top three opponents this season.Ā
- With the win, RU improves to 4-2 against top 15 ranked teams this season.Ā
- Goalkeeper Rafael Ponce de Leon and the Rutgers back line delivered a strong defensive performance, recording the team's fourth shutout of the season and Ponce de Leon's second clean sheet. Ā
- Ponce de Leon made one save, coming up with a timely stop from close range in the 32nd minute to keep Indiana off the scoreboard. Ā
- The Scarlet Knights dominated in almost every category including shots (14-9) and shots on goal (8-1). Ā
- The Hoosiers had yet to lose a game this season, only recording one draw against then-No. 12 Wisconsin.Ā
Looking AheadĀ Ā
Rutgers will travel to Penn State for a midweek contest on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.Ā Ā
Follow Rutgers Men's Soccer on Social MediaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Francesco Di Ponzio (1)
GOAL by RU Di Ponzio, Francesco.
72:24
