It was a busy day of soccer at Yurcak Field, as the Rutgers men’s and women’s soccer teams played their first conference games in a doubleheader on Friday. The women’s team was in action at 4 PM against Michigan State, followed by the men’s team taking on Penn State at 7 PM. Both teams ended the night with points, with the women’s team drawing the Spartans 1-1, followed by the men’s team taking down the Nittany Lions 1-0.
MSU controlled possession during the first fifteen minutes of the contest and
attempted the game’s first shot by Bella Najera in the sixteenth minute. However, in the eighteenth minute, Michigan State goalkeeper Kennedy Zorn made a short and errant pass that was intercepted by Nata Ramirez, who fired a shot over Zorn and into the empty net behind her.
The Scarlet Knights nearly doubled their lead before the end of the first half, with Olivia Russomano being stuffed on a breakaway attempt. Rutgers continued to apply pressure after halftime, with three shots attempted in the first nine minutes of the second half. But it was the Spartans who found the back of the net, with Najera scoring her fourth goal of the season in the 67th minute of the contest.
Michigan State nearly won the game in the final minute, but goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer made a huge save, pushing the ball over the crossbar and behind the goal for a corner kick. The Scarlet Knights settled for their fourth consecutive draw, with each team earning a point in the Big Ten standings. After two victories to open the season, Rutgers women’s soccer is now 2-0-4 to begin the 2025 season.
Later in the evening, Rutgers men’s soccer earned a statement victory over Penn State to begin Big Ten play. Each team had opportunities in the first half but could not capitalize on them. Joschi Schelb missed an open look near the penalty spot, while Christian Dionne of the Nittany Lions missed a one-timer just wide in the 42nd minute.
Rutgers started the second half creating more chances, with Jude Essuman missing a near-post shot from outside the six-yard box. Penn State had a chance of its own in the 57th minute, as Ciaran Dalton made a save on Joseph Sheridan’s header to keep the game scoreless.
In the 78th minute, forward Andrew Kitch was tackled just outside the penalty box by Sheridan, who denied a goal-scoring opportunity. Sheridan was originally given a yellow card, but it was upgraded to a red card after VAR review. Joschi Schelb took the ensuing free kick, sailing it over the goalkeeper’s head, off the crossbar, and into the net for the crucial go-ahead goal.
The goal marked Schelb’s sixth of the season, with three of them coming in the first 22 minutes of a 4-1 road win against William & Mary. Schelb leads Rutgers and the Big Ten in goals scored and is tied for first in the nation in that category. The Scarlet Knights doubled Penn State 18-9 in shots, with a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal and 9-4 advantage in corners. The most important statistic is that Rutgers earned three points in the Big Ten standings for their 1-0 win against the Nittany Lions.
The Rutgers soccer teams will both be on the road for their next contest. The women’s team will head to Minnesota to battle the Golden Gophers at 8 PM on Thursday, September 18th, while the men’s team will travel to Evanston to take on Northwestern on Friday at 7:30 PM. Both games will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.
