Rutgers-Newark schedule I stats

Rutgers-Camden schedule I stats

NEWARK, N.J. – On Saturday night, the sixth-ranked Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team will face another tough opponent as they take on rival Rutgers-Camden in both teams' New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener on Alumni Field.

The Scarlet Raiders have been off to a scorching hot start to their 2017 campaign, coming off the heels of a record-breaking 2016 season that included the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. They have now won 17 consecutive regular season matches, dating back to September 17, 2016 when R-C shutout the Scarlet Raiders 3-0.

R-N is 5-0-0 this year while finding the back of the net 15 times and conceding only once. Most recently, the Scarlet Raiders took the 2017 Brick City Classic championship as they defeated Whitman 1-0 last Saturday and Elmhurst 2-1 in a double overtime thriller on Sunday in the penultimate match of the four-team tournament.

Sophomore forward Fabio De Sousa is already off to a tremendous start following a 2016 campaign that earned him NSCAA All-American honors. De Sousa leads his side with 10 points, four goals, and two assists. He helped Rutgers-Newark earn the Brick City crown with the game-winner in the 104^th minute against Elmhurst.

Junior Stefano Muniz has also bolstered the Scarlet Raiders attack with three goals while three more teammates have two scores apiece in a well balanced offense.

Recently, rookie defender Adrian Velazquez took home an NJAC Rookie of the Week award for his role in Rutgers-Newark's Brick City Classic victories, helping a back line that boasts an 80.0% shutout rate. Meanwhile, in between the posts, reigning R-N Male Rookie of the Year sophomore Andres Medina with just one score allowed in over 362 minutes for an incredible 0.25 goals-against-average.

Fans who can make it for the 7:30 p.m. start at Alumni Field are eligible to receive limited edition fidget spinners, a limited supply of 'Soccer Fest' t-shirts, and newly minted 2017-18 calendars.

If you cannot make it to Alumni Field, you can still follow along at www.rutgersnewarkathletics/watch.

Want more Rutgers-Newark men's soccer? Follow @Scarlet_Raiders and @RUN_Soc on twitter all season long.