ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 8, 2015) – Sophomore back Isaiah Kuris of the Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team was named the Best Defensive Player at the 2015 Flower City Classic after helping the Scarlet Raiders to a 1-1-0 record against the 19th- and 20th-ranked teams in the nation.
 
The Scarlet Raiders – who deserved to leave upstate-New York with a pair of victories – suffered a hard-luck 2-1 defeat at tournament host and No. 20 University of Rochester Saturday, before bouncing back for a convincing 3-1 victory over 19th-ranked SUNY Cortland Sunday. Sunday's match gave Rutgers-Newark (2-2-0) a victory over the team that ended the Raiders' 2014 season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Kuris – a lanky 6-1 outside back from Mount Holly, NJ – played in 11 matches as a freshman and has been a staple on the field so far in 2015.
 
He assisted the team's lone goal in the loss to Rochester on Saturday, setting up classmate Chigozie Atubi for an equalizer in the 58th minute. Kuris played big on set pieces and along the Scarlet Raider back line as the team held Rochester to five total shots in more than 97 minutes of action and limited the Red Dragons to three shots on target.
 
Kuris and the Scarlet Raider defense has allowed five goals in the season's first four games and Head Men's Soccer Coach Kevin East was happy with the growth his team showed over the first week of the season.
 
"We are a young team and still a work in progress, but I saw some positive things this weekend," added East. "We have improved in each game so far, and are moving in the right direction. The effort was fantastic all weekend in difficult conditions and that is all I can ask of the boys."
 
Following a week in which it played four matches in six days, Rutgers-Newark will visit John Jay Wednesday afternoon before hosting the Scarlet Raider Soccer Classic Saturday and Sunday on Alumni Field.
 
Fans can visit www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com for the latest on the Rutgers-Newark men's soccer team.