EVANSTON, Ill. (October 10, 2024) – Coming off a dominant win at home over the weekend, Northwestern (6-5, 0-4 B1G) returns to Big Ten Conference action on Friday evening at Rutgers. Kickoff from Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. is set for 6 p.m. (CT).
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern rolled to a 4-0 win over visiting Trine this past Sunday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Brandon Clagette opened the scoring in the ninth minute, before Akinjide Awujo, Thaddaeus Dewing, and Italo Addimandi all found the back of the net in the second half to cement the Wildcats’ fifth home victory of 2024. Dominic Pereira made his collegiate debut in goal, making one save, as the Northwestern defensive unit limited the Thunder to just two shots en route to its fourth clean sheet.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Rutgers (4-6-2, 1-3-1 B1G) saw its brief two-game unbeaten spell come to an end in a 2-1 setback at Penn State on Monday evening. Nick Collins levied the tying goal in the 65th minute of play, before a Aboubacar Camara converted from the penalty spot with just 30 remaining in regulation to secure all three points for the host Nittany Lions. Prior to falling at Penn State, head coach Jim McElderry’s team stunned then No. 8 Wisconsin, 3-1, on October 4 in Madison, Wis.
Curt Calov has been at the forefront of the attack for Rutgers this season. The senior midfielder has found the back of the net five times, a mark that leads the Scarlet Knights’ roster, and has two game-winning tallies to his name. Ola Maeland has proven to be a threat as both a scorer and distributor, putting up three goals and two assists through 12 appearances, while Ian Abbey leads the Rutgers roster with four helpers on the year.
Ciaran Dalton has played in every minute of all 12 games in goal for the Scarlet Knights this season. Dalton, who holds a 1.58 goals against average in 2024, has five games this season with five-plus saves, the last of which came in Rutgers’ aforementioned win of the Badgers, a game in which he recorded five stops.
SERIES STUFF
Friday’s matchup at Yurcak Field marks the 13th all-time meeting between Northwestern and Rutgers in men’s soccer. The ‘Cats evened the series at 6-6 last season when, behind goals from Ugo Achara (79’) and Jayvin Van Deventer (87′), Northwestern blanked the visiting Scarlet Knights, 2-0, on October 8, 2023.
Rutgers has owned the upper hand in the series of late when the two sides have met at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights have prevailed in the last three tilts between the two teams on their home field, most recently picking up a 4-2 win September 17, 2022.
UP NEXT
Northwestern opens a two-match homestand on Tuesday, October 15 when it takes on No. 25 Wisconsin in a 7 p.m. kickoff inside Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern rolled to a 4-0 win over visiting Trine this past Sunday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Brandon Clagette opened the scoring in the ninth minute, before Akinjide Awujo, Thaddaeus Dewing, and Italo Addimandi all found the back of the net in the second half to cement the Wildcats’ fifth home victory of 2024. Dominic Pereira made his collegiate debut in goal, making one save, as the Northwestern defensive unit limited the Thunder to just two shots en route to its fourth clean sheet.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Rutgers (4-6-2, 1-3-1 B1G) saw its brief two-game unbeaten spell come to an end in a 2-1 setback at Penn State on Monday evening. Nick Collins levied the tying goal in the 65th minute of play, before a Aboubacar Camara converted from the penalty spot with just 30 remaining in regulation to secure all three points for the host Nittany Lions. Prior to falling at Penn State, head coach Jim McElderry’s team stunned then No. 8 Wisconsin, 3-1, on October 4 in Madison, Wis.
Curt Calov has been at the forefront of the attack for Rutgers this season. The senior midfielder has found the back of the net five times, a mark that leads the Scarlet Knights’ roster, and has two game-winning tallies to his name. Ola Maeland has proven to be a threat as both a scorer and distributor, putting up three goals and two assists through 12 appearances, while Ian Abbey leads the Rutgers roster with four helpers on the year.
Ciaran Dalton has played in every minute of all 12 games in goal for the Scarlet Knights this season. Dalton, who holds a 1.58 goals against average in 2024, has five games this season with five-plus saves, the last of which came in Rutgers’ aforementioned win of the Badgers, a game in which he recorded five stops.
SERIES STUFF
Friday’s matchup at Yurcak Field marks the 13th all-time meeting between Northwestern and Rutgers in men’s soccer. The ‘Cats evened the series at 6-6 last season when, behind goals from Ugo Achara (79’) and Jayvin Van Deventer (87′), Northwestern blanked the visiting Scarlet Knights, 2-0, on October 8, 2023.
Rutgers has owned the upper hand in the series of late when the two sides have met at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights have prevailed in the last three tilts between the two teams on their home field, most recently picking up a 4-2 win September 17, 2022.
UP NEXT
Northwestern opens a two-match homestand on Tuesday, October 15 when it takes on No. 25 Wisconsin in a 7 p.m. kickoff inside Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
