Season Preview

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 1, 2017) – The eighth-ranked Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team scored three goals in the first half en route to a 3-0 season-opening victory at Nazareth College Friday evening.
 
Junior Stefano Muniz scored the game-winner, senior Hubert Dul followed 1:59 later and senior Chigozie Atubi rang the bell with 22 ticks left in the opening stanza.
 
Rutgers-Newark improves to 1-0-0, while the Golden Flyers drop to 0-1-0. R-N will square off with Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday at 4 p.m. in its final match of the Doug May Classic.
 
"It was a nice result on the road," said Head Coach Kevin East after the win. "Opening-season games can be tricky, but I thought the group handled it well. We scored some nice goals in the first half and could have had a few more."
 
Muniz scored the first goal of the season on a direct kick from 20-yards out, staking his side to a 1-0 advantage. The marker came after three shots and two early corners for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Dul tallied 1:59 later for insurance, heading home a free kick off the foot of senior Carlos Castro. The push came after freshman goalkeeper Andres Medina saved the first Golden Flyer shot of the match nearly 20 minutes in.
 
Newark continued to press, generating several chances, and the Scarlet Raiders put the match away when Atubi banged in his goal at 44:36. The senior was able to follow his own blocked bid, knocking in the rebound for a 3-0 advantage. Atubi ended the 2016 postseason strong, and seemingly has picked up right where he left off.
 
After 45 minutes of play, the guests held a 10-2 edge in shots and a 4-0 margin in corners.
 
The second half was played on both sides of the field, but Rutgers-Newark never was threatened. R-N ended the contest with a 19-8 edge in attempts (8-4 in shots on goal) and an 8-1 advantage in corners.

Medina made two saves in the first 45 to earn the win, and sophomore Matt Cabrera made two more in the second 45 to lock down the combined clean sheet.
 
"Nazareth came out more aggressive in the second half, and I think it was a good lesson for the five or six freshman were had on the field at the time," added East. "They will adapt as the season progresses."
 
The win is the 13th-straight regular-season triumph for Rutgers-Newark. The Scarlet Raiders last non-postseason defeat was September 17, 2016 at Rutgers-Camden.
 
R-N and RIT will kickoff at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Fans should visit www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com around gametime for links to follow the action live.