The Rutgers men’s soccer team’s 2023 season fell short of expectations. Despite clinching their first Big Ten Championship in program history the previous year, the Scarlet Knights only managed three conference victories, lost eight games, and were ousted in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Head coach Jim McElderry is determined to restore Rutgers to prominence in the Big Ten and secure another NCAA Tournament berth this season. However, this task is complicated by the departure of 13 players during the offseason, including Matt Acosta and Jackson Temple.
Acosta, who transferred to UNC, was the only player to start every game last season as the team’s central midfielder, contributing three goals and three assists. Temple, who graduated, led the team with six goals and was a key offensive player known for his dynamic runs and chance creation.
McElderry noted, “We’re not just looking to replace Acosta and Temple with identical players; that’s impossible. We aim to maintain a style where we control possession more than the opposition. Our goal is to find players with similar skill sets.”
Though Rutgers did not acquire any transfers, they welcomed 11 freshmen, including international recruits like Icelandic defenders Arnar Adalsteinsson and Kristófer Arnarsson, and Leeds, England’s Scott Godden.
The team retains valuable players such as junior forward Ian Abbey, senior midfielder Curt Calov, and junior midfielder Cole Cruthers, one of the three team captains. Abbey and Calov combined for six goals last season, while Cruthers had one goal in 14 starts.
McElderry emphasized Calov’s importance, stating, “He’s crucial on and off the field. He’s in top physical and mental condition and should have a great season.” He also highlighted Abbey’s potential to step into a role similar to Temple’s, aiming for an increase in his goal tally.
Rutgers scored 24 goals last season, ranking fourth in the conference, with contributions spread across the team. McElderry anticipates a similar distribution of goals this season, saying, “We expect multiple players to score rather than relying on one to net 14 goals.”
Defensively, Rutgers conceded a conference-high 33 goals, largely due to a young backline featuring sophomore defenders Nick Collins, Erick Ruiz, and Devon Stopek. Senior defender Joey Zalinsky will continue to lead this unit, which is expected to remain intact.
Junior goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton, who had a 63 percent save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average last season, will likely start again. McElderry praised Dalton’s physical condition and performance, noting, “He’s in the best shape he’s been since joining Rutgers.”
Rutgers kicks off their 2024 season at home on Thursday against Northeastern, with the game starting at 7 p.m. and broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM. “I anticipate that some new players will make an impact, and I expect our returning players to raise their performance,” McElderry concluded.