Oct. 3, 2002
For the 17th-consecutive year, the Rutgers University men's soccer team will host the Philips/adidas Soccer Classic this weekend at Yurcak Field. As the defending champion, Rutgers will endure a tough task with two top 10 teams among those competing on the weekend. No. 1 St. John's, along with sixth-ranked UCLA and Old Dominion, will compete in the two-day, round-robin tournament.
On Friday night, the top-ranked Red Storm will face Old Dominion at 6:00 p.m., followed by Rutgers-UCLA in the nightcap. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, when St. John's and UCLA meet at 1:00 p.m., followed by ODU/Rutgers. Friday night's RU/UCLA match will feature a rematch of the 1990 National Championship game, which UCLA won on penalty kicks.
The four teams own a combined 19-6-3 record this season, led by SJU's 7-1-1 mark. The Red Storm will be making their 11th-consecutive appearance in the tournament, while UCLA will be making its third. In addition, Old Dominion will be making its second. The Bruins participated in the 1990 and 1994 tournament, taking top honors the last time. Old Dominion was a participant during the tournament's inaugural year in 1986.
This shapes up to be one of the most competitive tournaments in the country this season," said RU head coach Bob Reasso. "With three nationally ranked teams including # 1 St. John's and four teams that play highly competitive schedules. This is a tournament that no college soccer fan should miss."
RUTGERSRutgers, 3-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in BIG EAST play, is ranked 13th nationally by the NSCAA. Last week, RU posted a 1-0-1 mark behind the play of freshman Sammy Castellanos, the reigning BIG EAST Rookie of the Week. The Scarlet Knights defeated Villanova, 5-0, on Wednesday (9/25), as Castellanos registered a goal and three assists. On Sunday (9/29), RU tied No. 10 Notre Dame, 1-1, as Castellanos tallied the lone RU goal. Castellanos leads the team with nine points (3g, 3a), while Sherif El Bialy (2g, 4 pts) and Chris Karcz (1g, 1a, 3 pts) have also been effective. Senior Ricky Zinter, with four shutouts, has been strong in goal, while Guy Abrahamson (1g) leads the defensive unit.
ST. JOHN'SSt. John's, ranked first nationally in all three major polls, is 7-1-1 overall and 4-1-1 in BIG EAST play. The Red Storm have outscored their opponents, 14-3, this season behind the stellar goalkeeper play of Bill Gaudette. Gaudette owns a 0.34 GAA and has posted six shutouts in nine matches. Chris Wingert leads the offense with three goals and one assist (7 points), while four others have added two goals apiece to form a balanced attack. The Red Storm have played just two matches away from home, posting a 1-1 record.
UCLAThe Bruins, ranked as high as sixth nationally (Soccer America), own a 5-1-0 record entering this weekend. The duo of Tim Pierce (5g, 4a) and Matt Taylor (4g, 2a) lead the offense, which has tallied 18 goals in six matches. Ryan Futagaki (3g, 1a) and Adolfo Gregorio (3g, 1a) add more scoring punch. The goalkeeping chores belong to Zach Wells, who has started all six matches and owns a 0.87 GAA. Wells has yielded five goals in 517 minutes, posting two shutouts.
OLD DOMINIONThe Monarchs enter this weekend with a 4-2 record, coming off back-to-back wins vs. American (3-2) and UNC-Wilmington (5-0). Attila Vendegh has emerged as one of the nation's top scoring threats, posting six goals and three assists (15 points), while Kevon Harris is second with one goal and four assists for six points. Head coach Alan Dawson has employed a goalkeeping platoon, with Sam Cameron and John Connelly starting three matches apiece. Cameron owns a 1.30 GAA, while Connelly, on the losing side of a 4-0 match with Coastal Carolina, has a 2.33 GAA.
2002 Philips/adidas Soccer Classic
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4St. John's vs. Old Dominion6:00 p.m.UCLA vs. Rutgers 8:00 p.m. (or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first match)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6St. John's vs. UCLA1:00 p.m.Old Dominion vs. Rutgers 3:00 p.m. (or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first match)