Rutgers men’s soccer head coach Jim McElderry is entering his fifth season in Piscataway. Last fall was a breakthrough campaign with the Scarlet Knights winning the Big Ten Tournament title over eventual national finalist Indiana. The program earned its first NCAA Tournament berth in seven years. RU finished with a 10-5-6 record and in second place in the Big Ten regular season standings.
Heading in the 2023 campaign, McElderry welcomes back many key players from last season’s squad. There are significant contributors to replace with Big Ten Player of the Year and leading scorer MD Myers gone along with defensive captain Thomas DeVizio, multi-year starter Pablo Avila, and Hugo Le Guennec. However, there are experienced players to place all over the pitch.
The scoring attack will feature forwards Ian Abbey, Colin Beasley, Ola Maeland, and Nico Rosamilia. McElderry has also added Syracuse transfer curt Calov up front.
The midfield is very strong with Jackson Temple and Jason Bouregy back, both of whom led RU with 8 assists apiece last season. Rutgers also has co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cole Cruthers and Matthew Acosta to give McElderry plenty of talent and depth to choose from.
The defense will be led by Joey Zalinsky who is joined by veterans Chris Tiao and Cole Sotack.
In goal, All-Big Ten Freshman Ciaran Dalton is back in net, as is Aurie Briscoe.
Hope is high for Rutgers this season. In the interview, McElderry touches on a full roster review, non-conference schedule, how the program looks to sustain success by building off of last season’s Big Ten Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth, the value of having Alexi Lalas and Carli Lloyd as alums and much more.
Listen and watch to this episode of The Scarlet Faithful podcast below.
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McElderry is yet another example of the high quality of coaches in the Rutgers athletic programs and that’s a credit to Pat Hobbs. Once again, the fall athletic season should be interesting as well as promising.
pj43
August 8, 2023 at 11:32 am
McElderry is yet another example of the high quality of coaches in the Rutgers athletic programs and that’s a credit to Pat Hobbs. Once again, the fall athletic season should be interesting as well as promising.