Men's & Women's Soccer Each Post Wins

Rutgers Futbol picked up a pair of important victories this week; the women's team dominated Mount St. Mary's in a 7-0 shutout at Yurcak Field Thursday night, while the men's team picked up their first win of the season on the road over Oral Roberts on Friday night.

Women's Soccer's sophomore midfielder Nicole Whitley and freshman forward Amirah Ali tallied two goals apiece, while sophomores Brittany LaPlant, Carina Hendley, and Brianna Starr had one each. Six different Scarlet Knights picked up assists. Six of those seven goals were scored during the first half, a display of complete dominance for the team.

Ali now has four goals in as many games to start her Scarlet Knights career; last year’s national high school player of the year leads the team with eight points. Whitley is on her heels with seven. All seven goals were scored by underclassmen and they've scored 13 of the team's 16 goals thus far.

Women's Soccer now has four shutouts in as many games to start their season and have outscored their opponents by a combined 16-0. The team's margin of victory was also their largest since a 7-0 shutout against Temple in 1991.

Men's Soccer also picked up their first win of the season in an important 5-3 contest last night, after dropping both matches against top five foes North Carolina and Wake Forest to open the 2017 campaign. Redshirt senior Ethan Vanacore-Decker tallied two goals, including the game-winner (the fourth game-winning goal of his career), and an assist; he leads the team with five points on the season and has 24 career points. Dante Perez, Niel Guzman, and Vincent Borden scored goals as well. Perez, who led the team in scoring last season, and Guzman now both have 14 career points.

The team held a 2-0 lead about midway through the first half on goals from Borden and Guzman, and led 2-1 at halftime, but Oral Roberts quickly came back to tie the game at two. Perez scored the go-ahead tally in the 73rd minute and Vanacore-Decker scored twice to secure the win, despite a late penalty kick conversion by Oral Roberts' Santiago Riveros.

Women's Soccer will look to go undefeated on their five-game homestand (and 5-0 to start the season) when they face Drexel tomorrow (Sunday, September 3) at 1PM at Yurcak Field. Students receive free admission with their Rutgers vs. Washington football tickets so come support the team!

Men's Soccer is also back in action tomorrow, as they look to close out their four-game road trip with a win against UMKC at 2PM. They'll return home to face Michigan State in their first Big Ten contest of the season on Friday, September 8. Students also receive free admission to that game with their Rutgers vs. Washington football tickets.