NEWARK, NJ | The Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer program fell just short of claiming the top spot in the annual Brick City Classic this afternoon after they lost 3-2 to Moravian University at Frederick Douglass Field. Rutgers-Newark moves to 2-3 on the year.
Rutgers University-Newark held the 15-10 edge in shots in the contest but it was the Greyhounds who were more efficient, finding the back of the net three times. Franco Catania continued his stretch of games with at least one goal after he tied the game up with a penalty kick in the 31st minute after Reed Sturza slipped a shot under Andres Medina in the 8th.
Sturza would strike again in the 70th minute after a rebound fell to him at the top of the 18 where he locked his ankle and powered a shot over Medina to put his squad up 21 with 20 minutes to go. Sturza looked poised to complete the hattrick in the 74th but slotted a pass to his teammate Andrew Goodolf who was able to tap in an easy shot to give his team a 3-1 lead.
The Scarlet Raiders, with three minutes left, made a last-ditch effort to bring the game level after Brandon Castro found himself on the end of a pass from Catania. Castro made no mistake to redirect it into the net and quickly bring it back to midfield as the Scarlet Raider engine was on the move. Rutgers-Newark had an opportunity late to knot the game up but saw the cross miss its mark and sail out of bounds as Moravian would go on to win the game.
The men return to action on Wednesday, September 15 when they host Marywood University at 7:30 pm.
Brick City Classic All Tournament Team
MVP 56 Reed Sturza Moravian
19 Sebastian Hernandez TCNJ
25 Justin Dominique TCNJ
10 Cameron Eckberg Penn State Behrend
21 Justin LeDonne Penn State Behrend
9 Joshua Breton-Jones Rutgers-Newark
17 Juwan Ash Rutgers-Newark
21 Franco Catania Rutgers-Newark
2 Donald Gibbs Moravian
9 Dave Steinbach Moravian
20 Anthony Nagy Moravian
