Rutgers men’s soccer (8-2-2, 3-1-1 B1G) defeated Wisconsin (4-6, 1-4 B1G) on Friday night, 4-2. The Scarlet Knights remain unbeaten this season at Yurcak Field, 6-0. Both squads created early offensive opportunities, but it was Rugers who found the net first, on a highlight-reel bicycle kick by Parisian Camron Boumsong in the 27th minute. The goal was initially waived off for offside, but upon video review, it was determined that Boumsong was not beyond the second-to-last defender.
The second half saw a flurry of goals early on, as the Badgers tied the match on a goal from Roman Eisa in the 52nd minute. Rutgers countered with a goal by Andrew Kitch in the 55th minute off a nice feed from German midfielder Joschi Schelb. In the 59th minute, Nick Collins headed a well-placed corner from Schelb inside the right post to put Rutgers up 3-1. With the season slipping away from them, the Badgers showed urgency, pressing for a goal, and in the 73rd minute, Markie Hrvojevic’s goal pulled them within one.
The game would be decided in the 87th minute, when Dan Karsten broke free with the ball towards the Wisconsin goal and was taken down from behind just outside the penalty box. After the video review, Ellis Jones was handed a red card and disqualified. Karsten’s well-struck penalty kick deflected off a defender along the Wisconsin wall and inside the right post, to push the Rutgers lead to 4-2 and essentially salt the match away.
With five regular-season games remaining, Rutgers sits tied for third in the Big Ten. With only four teams moving on to the conference tournament this season, the Knights control their own destiny, with matches against current second-seed Maryland in College Park on Tuesday and top-seed Washington at home at Yurcak on Friday.
Notable
- 21 of RU’s 25 goals this season have come from newcomers, as head coach Jim McElderry has done a masterful job assembling a cohesive, competitive squad.
- Rutgers is second in the Big Ten in goals scored, with 25.
- RU improves to 8-6-1 against the Badgers in the all-time series and has come out on top in the last five meetings.
Next Up
A battle in College Park against No. 2 seed Maryland on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m.
