The Rutgers men’s soccer team, ranked No. 18 nationally, is set to host Wisconsin on Friday, October 10 at Yurcak Field for Senior Day. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on B1G+.
Rutgers comes into the game with a record of 7-2-2 overall and 2-1-1 in Big Ten play. In their previous outing, the Scarlet Knights played to a scoreless draw against then-No. 11 Michigan. Thomas Angelone led Rutgers with two shots, and Camron Boumsong also had a shot on goal. Goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton made five saves in the match.
The team re-entered the United States Soccer Coaches National Poll at No. 18 on October 7, marking their first appearance since 2021. Rutgers is one of five Big Ten programs in the current poll, alongside Michigan, Maryland, Indiana, and Washington. The Scarlet Knights are currently ranked No. 11 in the RPI and are tied for third in the conference standings with seven points.
Cole Cruthers will serve as captain for the 2025 season, supported by a leadership group that includes Devon Stopek, Erick Ruiz, Ciaran Dalton, and Joschi Schelb.
Goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton has established himself in the program’s record books. He ranks fifth all-time at Rutgers with 57 career games played in net and is tied for sixth with 209 career saves. Dalton reached his 200th save earlier this season against Ohio State.
Rutgers returns seven players who started at least ten games last season. Dalton and Stopek started every game in 2024, while Nick Collins, Nestor Cabrera, Scott Godden, Arnar Adalsteinsson, and Cole Cruthers also contributed significantly.
The team added seven transfers during the offseason: Joschi Schelb (St. Francis University), Camron Boumsong (St. John’s University), Andrew Kitch (University of North Carolina), Timo Jansen (University of Albany), Logan Brown (Clemson), Dan Karsten (Lipscomb), and Amer Lukovic (Montclair State). Several of these newcomers have already scored for Rutgers this season.
A freshman class of nine was also brought in by head coach Jim McElderry and his staff. Jude Essuman, Cedric Lemaire, and Jack Andrus joined in spring 2025, while Jeffrey Bryjack, Simon Gorczowski, Jaden Gordon, Joshua Jerome, Braxton Montgomery, and Ailan Panton arrived before preseason. Montgomery and Andrus have become regular starters on defense; Essuman and Jerome have each scored this year.
Wisconsin enters Friday’s match with a 4-5 overall record and a 1-3 mark in Big Ten play. After losing four straight games earlier in the season, the Badgers have won their last two matches. Bart Muns and Matthew Zachemski lead Wisconsin with three goals each. Historically, Rutgers holds a 7-6-1 advantage over Wisconsin and has won the last four meetings between the teams.
Looking ahead, Rutgers will face No. 22 Washington on Friday, October 17 for Letterwinner Night as part of Homecoming weekend. The event will feature activities such as carnival games and live music at the Rutgers Boardwalk. Fans can expect giveaways including light-up sticks and trick-or-treating bags.
Fans can follow updates on Rutgers men’s soccer through their official social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram (@RUMensSoccer) and Facebook. Updates on all Rutgers Athletics programs are available through their respective social media channels and the Gameday App.
