Tonight’s win, Northwestern’s second in as many seasons over the Scarlet Knights, marks the Wildcats’ first road triumph over Rutgers since the 2016 campaign.
How It Happened
Both teams struggled to break down one another early on a cool fall evening just off the Jersey Shore. Collin McCamy tallied the first attempt of the night for either side in the 12th minute, pulling his attempt from the top of the box wide of the near post.
Just in front of the half-hour mark, Rafael Cabrera put the hosts on top when he drove his right-footed attempt from just inside the 18-yard box inside the far post to give Rutgers a 1-0 lead. Northwestern nearly provided an immediate response, as Awujo saw his look at goal hit the post before Brandon Clagette sent the ensuing round over the bar.
The ‘Cats found their breakthrough in the half’s closing minutes. Bryant Mayer sent a Joe Suchecki feed towards the middle of the box and found an unmarked Prince, who rifled his attempt in at the far post to pull Northwestern level, 1-1. Italo Addimandi made a bid to send the visitors into the locker room with the lead at halftime when he unleashed a screaming left-footed blast that prompted a diving save out of Rutgers goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton in the closing seconds.
After seeing Curt Calov hit the post less than two minutes into the second half, Northwestern went in front in the 68th minute. Mayer chased down a Suchecki pass at the endline before delivering a ball across the face of goal. Awujo directed the resulting deflection off Dalton into the back of the net to stake the ‘Cats to a 2-1 lead.
Making his first start back in his native New Jersey, Rafael Ponce de León came up with a pair of saves in the final 20 minutes, none bigger than a point-blank stop on Nick Collins in the 80th minute to protect the one-goal lead. A pair of last-ditch efforts by Rutgers in the final seconds failed to produce an equalizing goal as Northwestern held on for a crucial road victory.
Looking At The Numbers
– Both Prince and Awujo scored their second goals of 2024 this evening.
– The duo shares the team lead in the category with Addimandi.
– Mayer and Suchecki were credited with assists on both goals.
– Meyer has a team-best five helpers to his name this season.
– Tonight’s victory marked Northwestern’s second win this season when it concedes the opening goal.
– Ponce de León was credited with two saves.
Up Next
Northwestern returns home on Tuesday, October 15 for its first of back-to-back matchups at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium when it hosts No. 25 Wisconsin in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
