Rutgers men's soccer ends 2024 season with dramatic win at Michigan State
It was a dramatic ending to a season full of ups and downs for the Rutgers men's soccer team. The Scarlet Knights (6-9-2, 3-6-1) defeated Michigan State 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in East Lansing, Michigan, thanks to an 83rd-minute goal from sophomore midfielder Francesco Di Ponzio.
The Spartans (5-7-4, 4-4-2) entered Sunday's regular-season finale on a three-game winless streak and needed three points to earn a top-three seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers, already eliminated from the tournament, finished the 2024 season with back-to-back wins.
The first half was played slowly, with only seven attempted shots between both sides.
The final 45 minutes were more exciting, but Michigan State was the more dominant team. The Spartans totaled 15 shots in the second half, but the Knights scored the breakthrough goal against the run of play.
With about 8 minutes left to play in the contest, junior midfielder Cole Cruthers played a pass to senior forward Nico Rosamilia, who flicked the ball up in the air. The ball was controlled by Di Ponzio, who spun around a Michigan State defender and placed his shot through the legs of Spartans goalkeeper Zac Kelly. It was Di Ponzio's 2nd goal of the season and of his young Rutgers career.
Junior goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton ended the game with three saves for his second shutout of the season.
The Knights will look ahead to the 2025 season, hoping to replicate their success from 2022, when they won the Big Ten Tournament and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
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