Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Junior transfer
Kameron Teel (Glassboro, N.J./Immaculata) drew first blood in the 40th minute, but Rutgers scored a late flurry of goals to take the season-opening contest 3-1 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.
The Explorers went toe-to-toe with the Scarlet Knights as the defense was brilliant through 75 minutes of play. The hosts held a 7-3 shot advantage in the first half, but it was the Explorers who were on top heading into the locker room as sophomore goalkeeper
John McCarthy (Cinnaminson, N.J./Northeast Catholic) rejected four. Teel put the Explorers on the board at 39:09 when he found an open net for an unassisted goal, his first in an Explorer uniform after transferring from Immaculata University this season.
The Scarlet Knights came out of the halftime break and tried to break through the defense, peppering three shots in a two-minute span starting at 51:06 but two were blocked and one sailed wide to keep the Explorer lead at 1-0. The hosts finally broke through though in the 76th minute when Kene Eze sent a cross in the box to Nathan Bruccoleri, who punched it in for the equalizer.
Rutgers then scored twice in a 43-second span in the 81st minute to go up 3-1 and put the game away. Ibrahim Kamara took a pass from Sam Archer for the go-ahead goal at 80:15, and Juan Pablo Correa followed up with the insurance at 80:58 on an assist from Nate Bourdeau.
The Scarlet Knights outshot the Explorers 17-7 in the game and held a slight 5-4 advantage on corner kicks.
McCarthy took the loss in goal despite a brilliant performance through the majority of the game, recording five saves with four of those in the first half. Adam Klink picked up the W in net for Rutgers, stopping two shots.
The Explorers return to action on Friday, Sept. 2, when they host Soccer Six rival Penn in the home opener at McCarthy Stadium at 7:00 PM.
Be sure to stay up to date on Explorer men's soccer by signing up for text alerts here.
