Aug. 24, 2012

Game Tracker | Live Video

Piscataway, N.J. - After a pair of preseason victories on the pitch, the Fordham University men's soccer team opens its 2012 regular season with a matchup against #14 Rutgers University at 8:00 PM on Friday, August 24, in Piscataway, New Jersey.

The Rams enter the matchup with the Scarlet Knights having a myriad of early season questions, beginning with who will be the person minding the goal for the Rams this fall. 2011 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Meara has moved on to Major League Soccer and Ricky Berotti is the only keeper on the roster who possesses any collegiate experience. He and Sean Brailey are fighting for the starting position.

Fordham also lost offensive stars Tim Richardson and John Niyonsaba to graduation, but they return Michael Valencia and Nathaniel Bekoe in the midfield. Valencia is the leading returning point scorer on the team, while Bekoe was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 2011 and was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for 2012.

But the cupboard isn't bare for the Rams as they return three starters along the backline in Ryan Curran, Casper Gimand and Michael Stalker. The defense recorded ten shutouts in 2011 and was part of a squad that defeated a pair of ranked opponents in #23 Xavier and #10 Charlotte.

Rutgers enters 2012 ranked 14th in the latest 2012 topdrawersoccer.com poll. The Scarlet Knights finished 2011 with a 10-7-4 mark, including a Big East record of 6-1-2. The team returns its top scorer in sophomore Juan Pablo Correa, who led Rutgers with 17 points (6G, 5A). Kene Eze, who finished second in scoring with 15 points, also returns to the pitch.

Following the matchup with the Scarlet Knights, Fordham returns to Jack Coffey Field for its home opener against Adelphi on Sunday, August 26, at 1:00 PM.