Game Program | Bracket
NEWARK, N.J. (November 12, 2016) – Behind an early goal from junior
Chigozie Atubi and a late save from freshman
Andres Medina, the 10th-ranked Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship with a 1-0 win over New England College.
The NCAA victory is the second in program history for Rutgers-Newark who improves to 19-3-0 overall. The Scarlet Raiders will take on Elizabethtown College in the second round of the tournament Sunday on Alumni Field at 5 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16.
New England College – the champions of the North Atlantic Conference – sees its season end with a record of 11-10-1.
Atubi struck early for the Scarlet Raiders thanks to a cross from junior
Alex Torres just 3:23 into the action. The Scarlet Raiders quickly pushed deep into the Pilgrim zone, and after some strong possession Atubi received the Torres pass in the middle of the box. There, he touched and then turned, depositing his left-footed shot in the back of the net from about 10-yards away. The goal was the fourth of the season for Atubi, and the assist was the fifth of the year for Torres.
The hosts nearly took a 2-0 lead on a curling free kick off the foot of senior
Sebastian Gostynski with 25:34 left in the first half, but freshman goalkeeper Maxime Danis made a diving stop for New England.
Torres and junior
Carlos Castro had solid bids midway through the half but both attempts sailed just a bit high.
Freshman goalkeeper
Andres Medina made his first save when junior Brian Jumpp broke free for an attempt with 16:14 remaining in the opening period.
NEC had an excellent opportunity with about three minutes to play in the first as senior Ronsard Masamba lofted a cross in front and a header from senior Rizy Misiri just missed the top-left of the goal.
Newark responded two minutes later when sophomore
Timothy Farias received a pass from sophomore
Zachary Gillespie in front, but his attempt clanged off the post and the Scarlet Raiders headed into halftime up, 1-0.
The first 25 minutes of the second half saw several chances for each side. Sophomore
Stefano Muniz had a strong attempt that was saved by Danis, and with 19:06 left junior Sina Simali headed a cross wide-left.
Freshman
Fabio De Sousa and junior
Isaiah Kuris put back-to-back shots on target 1:27 apart in the latter stages of the second period, and with 11:23 left De Sousa took a feed from Atubi but his shot hammered the near post.
Sophomore Cooper Valinski had a solid shot from the top of the box for NEC with 6:40 on the clock, but the rip went wide-left, and with 3:48 remaining Medina made the play of the game to help seal the triumph. Jumpp broke free, receiving a through-ball and finding himself one-on-one with Medina. Medina charged at Jumpp, slid and was somehow able get a hand on the ball, eventually controlling it to keep the Scarlet Raiders in front.
Rutgers-Newark ended the match with an 18-13 edge in shots, an 8-4 margin in shots on goal and a 3-1 margin in corners. Medina made four saves to earn the shutout in goal, while Danis made seven stops for NEC in the loss.
Admission to Sunday's second-round match is $6 for general admission, $3 for student and seniors with ID and $2 for children. Rutgers-Newark students, staff and faculty with ID will receive free admission to the game.
Fans unable to make it to Alumni Field can tune in live at
www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com/watch.
Notes:
-Rutgers-Newark is now 2-2-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches. The other victory came against Babson College in November of 2014
-Rutgers-Newark has recorded a program-record 12 shutouts this season.
-The Scarlet Raiders' previous program-best for wins was 17. They now have 19.
-R-N has never reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
-The NCAA win on Alumni Field is the first-ever for Rutgers-Newark.
-The NCAA win on Newark soil is the second in Rutgers-Newark athletics history. The men's volleyball program was an NCAA match back in April of 2015.
