PISCATAWAY, N.J. (August 29, 2014) – The Rutgers men’s soccer team kicked off the 2014 season with a 1-0 victory over UMKC on Friday night at Yurcak Field. Freshman forward Jason Wright (Kingston, Jamaica) captured his first goal as a Scarlet Knight in the 53^rd minute for the game’s lone tally.

With the Scarlet Knights moving the ball up from the backfield, senior captain Ross Tetro (Freehold, N.J.) sent a pass from the midfield line towards the box, finding a racing Wright splitting a pair of UMKC defenders. Wright controlled the ball at the top of the box, sending a shot six yards out from the left post, past oncoming ‘Roos keeper Chris McGaughey, for the game-winner.

“It was a tough, hard-fought win. It was the first game of the year, with a lot of new pieces,” said head coach Dan Donigan. “Guys have only played three true games together, so we have to be patient. It’s going to take time to find the right partnerships with some of these guys. We got a great goal from Jason Wright for the game-winner and at the end of the day, we beat a tough, scrappy UMKC team.”

RU outshot UMKC, 11-10, with five different Scarlet Knights getting chances on goal.

The game was scoreless at the half as the Scarlet Knight held a 4-1 advantage on shots. Senior captain Drew Morgan (Atlanta, Ga.) had a chance to put Rutgers ahead in the game’s 22^nd minute, but his header off a corner by teammate Erik Sa (Watchung, N.J.) was thrwarted by ‘Roo netminder McGaughey.

Both teams had several chances early in the second half. Freshman Miles Hackett (Montclair, N.J.) went tearing down the field, to nearly the same spot where Wright collected his goal, after the opening whistle, but was ruled offsides.  Hackett would have two more chances at net in the early moments of the second stanza as well.

Following Wright’s goal in the 52^nd minute, Rutgers several other chances to find the back of the ‘Roos net. Redshirt junior forward J.P. Correa (Montville, N.J.) sped down the middle of the field in the game’s 78^th minute drawing out McGaughey for an open look at goal. Correa’s shot bounced off the right post and Elisa Eze (Sayreville, N.J.) collected the rebound for another Scarlet Knight attempt, but McGaughey came up with the save.

McGaughey made five stops in total for UMKC in the loss. Sophomore David Greczek (Fairfield, N.J.) made three saves in net for RU.

The Rutgers men’s soccer team returns to action on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Yurcak Field. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

KNIGHT NOTES:

·         The Scarlet Knights, who first started playing soccer in 1938, are now 37-27-10 all-time in openers.

·         RU is unbeaten in their last five home openers at Yurcak Field and has posted wins in each of the last four seasons.

·         RU improved to 3-0 against the current members of the WAC with wins also over UNLV (1-0 – 10/6/1996) and Air Force (5-2 – 11/23/66).

·         Junior Ross Tetro registered his second career assist. His other assist came in a 2-0 win over Princeton back on Sept. 8, 2012 of Tetro’s freshman season.  The junior Scarlet Knight now has four career points (1G, 2A).

·         With his three saves, sophomore goalkeeper David Greczek has made 111 career saves. It was his 21^st consecutive start.

·         In their next contest, Rutgers and Lafayette will meet on the soccer field for the 53^rd time in history. The Scarlet Knights have only played Princeton more times (56).

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-RU-