MEMPHIS, Tenn.  (September 28, 2013) – The Rutgers men’s soccer team picked up its first American Athletic Conference (AAC) victory Saturday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex as freshman midfielder Erik Sa (Watchung Hill, N.J.) captured his first career goal in the Scarlet Knights’ 1-0 victory at Memphis.

Sa lifted RU to victory in the 72nd minute of play off one of three Scarlet Knight corner kicks on the evening.  Sophomore midfielder Mael Corboz (Green Brook, N.J.) sent the cross with Sa heading the ball into the left corner of the Tiger net.  For Corboz, it was his third assist of 2013 and brings his total to a team-leading 13 points through nine games.

Rutgers’ victory ended a 274 minute scoring drought and two-game skid.  The win over Memphis, a squad ranked at No. 19 in this week’s Soccer America Poll and receiving votes in the NSCAA Poll, improved the Scarlet Knights 4-4-1 overall and 1-1-0 in AAC play.  The victory also gives RU its first win away from the friendly confines of Yurcak Field this season. 

The Tigers meanwhile had their six-game unbeaten streak snapped as they fell to 6-2-1 overall and 1-1-0 in league action.

Memphis outshot RU, 12-4, and both teams had three corners apiece.

Freshman goalkeeper David Greczek (Fairfield, N.J.) earned his second shutout of the year making three saves in the win.  Memphis’ Cody Uzcategui stopped two of the Scarlet Knights’ shots on goal.

“It was a huge win for our guys tonight,” said head coach Dan Donigan.  “Falling to SMU in our conference opener was disheartening and then the loss to Drexel was a tough one to swallow, so tonight we were able to secure a very hard fought road win.  We’ll use this as momentum as we head back home for games against Hofstra and Cincinnati this week.”

The Rutgers men’s soccer team returns home to Yurcak Field for a pair of games.  RU hosts Hofstra in non-conference action on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and returns to AAC play against Cincinnati on Sat., Oct. 5.  Both games are at 7 p.m.

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-RU-