MADISON, Wisc. (September 12, 2014) – Redshirt junior JP Correa (Montville, N.J.) scored the golden goal in the 97^th minute to give the Rutgers men’s soccer team its first ever Big Ten Conference victory in a 3-2 overtime win at the McClimon Soccer Complex.

Correa’s goal came a minute after sophomore goalkeeper David Greczek (Fairfield, N.J.) came up with a huge save to keep the game in motion. Wisconsin’s Christopher Mueller, from the left post, attempted to blast the ball into the opposite corner, but a diving Greczek batted the ball away, one of his seven saves of the night.

Moments later the Scarlet Knights gained possession and freshman Jason Wright (Kingston, Jamaica) dribbled through two Wisconsin defenders into the box and fired away at the Badger net from nine yards out. The Scarlet Knights’ leading scorer, however, way denied by Wisconsin keeper Casey Beyers, who knocked the ball to the left of the cage.

Junior Thomas O’Rourke (Lawrenceville, N.J.) took control of the ball at the end line, turned and lifted the ball into the crowd in front of the Wisconsin net. Correa, from the back of the pack, leaped up and headed the ball in to give the first Rutgers team in history a Big Ten win.

“It’s a great way to start conference play. I’m proud of our team for the fight and the effort they gave tonight,” said head coach Dan Donigan. “We certainly gave Wisconsin plenty of opportunities to win the game as well, but fortunately David (Greczek) and our guys made the plays they needed to make to keep us in it. At the end of the day, we’re walking away with a road win and we’ll continue to improve.”  

Rutgers came from behind in the win as Wisconsin took a 1-0 edge in the game’s 12^th minute and held on to the advantage until the second half.  Tom Barlow drew Greczek out of the net for an open look at the Scarlet Knight net for the early 1-0 Badger lead.

The Scarlet Knights knotted the score a 1-1 seven minutes into the second half. Freshman Brandon Tetro (Freehold, N.J.) threw the ball in from right side to Correa along the end line. Correa made his way to the goal sneaking the ball in between the post and keeper for his first tally of the 2014 season.

RU went ahead 2-1 in the 81^st minute when Rayon Gibbs (Jackson, Miss.), the transfer from Tyler Junior College, captured his first Scarlet Knight goal after weaving through the Wisconsin defense from the right side and lifted the ball high into the left corner of the net from the atop the box.

The Badgers, however, were able to force overtime knotting the score at 2-2 with a mere two minutes left in regulation. Mark Segbers registered his team-leading fourth goal of the year after a long pass from David Caban after a change of possession at midfield.

The Scarlet Knights ended the game outshooting the Badgers, 22-13, and held a 10-7 edge in corners.

The win upped Rutgers’ mark to 3-1 on the year. Wisconsin, a team that held a 14-game home unbeaten streak entering the season, dropped to 1-4 overall.

The Rutgers men’s soccer team returns home next week hosting a pair of games at Yurcak Fied. RU welcomes in-state rival Monmouth on Tuesday, Sept. 16 and Indiana will serve as the Scarlet Knights’ first Big Ten home game on Sunday, Sept. 20. Both games kickoff at 7 p.m.

KNIGHT NOTES:

·         The Rutgers men’s soccer team will go down in history as the first Scarlet Knight team to register a win in the Big Ten.

·         The Scarlet Knights improved to 12-18-1 all-time against Big Ten opponents. It was the first ever meeting between Rutgers and Wisconsin.

·         JP Correa becomes the second Scarlet Knight with multiple goal games with his two goals against the Badgers. Jason Wright also had a two-goal effort in RU’s 2-1 win over Lafayette on Aug. 31.

·         Correa’s goals were his first of the 2014 season. He now has 25 points (9G, 7A) in his career.

·         Freshman Brandon Tetro logged his first career assist off a throw in in the 53^rd minute of play.

·         Rayon Gibbs’ goal to give RU a 2-1 edge in the 81^st minute was his first goal as a Scarlet Knight.

·         Thomas O’Rourke captured his first points of 2014 and his third career assist on the game-winner. All three of his assists have resulted in game-winners. O’Rourke’s other game-winning assists came in a regular season victory against Cincinnati last season and vs. Villanova on a golden goal by former Scarlet Knight Kene Eze in the 2012 season finale.

·         With seven saves against the Badgers, David Greczek has made 135 career saves in 25 games played. It was his 13^th career game with five or more stops.

·         Friday night’s game was RU’s first road game of the year. The Scarlet Knights only have four more trips away from the friendly confines of Yurcak Field.

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-RU-