Men's Soccer Hits the Road after Big Weekend Win
Oct 10 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team, coming off a critical 2-1 overtime win against St. John's on Oct. 7, has a winning record for the first time this season after winning six of its last seven games. The Scarlet Knights will look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Penn (7-2-1) on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers' win over BIG EAST rival St. John's not only improved RU's record to 7-6, but also moved the team into in a second-place tie with South Florida in the Red Division, while SJU fell to fourth.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week Bart Koffeman (The Hague, Netherlands) had the game-winning goal in the defeat of SJU, as RU recorded its first win over St. John's in six years. In front of the largest home crowd of the season, Rutgers' offense out-shot the Red Storm, 23-7. Kevin O'Connor (Freehold, N.J.) got the scoring started for the Scarlet Knights when he fired the ball past SJU goalie Jason Landers into the upper left corner of the net in the 32nd minute of play. With the goal, Rutgers went into halftime with the 1-0 lead.
SJU tied the game in the second half when Danny Dragoi found a clear path to the goal and shot the ball past RU goalie Matt VanOekel (Chesapeake, Va.). Neither team could generate any further offense in the second half, sending the game into overtime.
With just 2:53 remaining in overtime, Tomislav Barisic (Osijek, Croatia) took a corner kick which found Koffemen,who footed the ball past Landers to win the game for the Scarlet Knights.
Koffeman was named the BIG EAST's Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts last week against Cleveland State (Oct. 3) and St. John's. His defensive play helped limit CSU to eight shots and one goal, and SJU to just seven shots and one goal. The senior tri-captain also netted two goals and now leads the team with three. It was the first BIG EAST honor for a Rutgers player this season.
Penn enters this week's match coming off a 1-0, double-overtime win against Columbia on Oct. 7. Sophomore Kevin Unger scored the game-winner to keep Penn undefeated in Ivy League play. Rutgers is 4-9 all-time against Penn, with the teams having last played on Oct. 23, 2002, where RU dropped a 1-0 decision at Yurcak Field. Penn, which stands in first place in the Ivy League standings, will be another tough test for the Scarlet Knights.
"Penn is at the top of the Ivy League and they have an outstanding coach in Brian Fuller," head coach Bob Reasso said. "It will be a difficult game but we're ready for the challenge."
Following the game at Penn, the Scarlet Knights will play at Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 7:00 p.m.
