PISCATAWAY, N.J.  (October 24, 2013) – The votes are in and 14 former Scarlet Knight greats from 1938 to the present have been selected to represent the Rutgers Men's Soccer 75th Anniversary Team.

"Those represented on this team is truly a testament to the storied history of Rutgers men's soccer," said head coach Dan Donigan.  "There was a tremendous response from Rutgers fans on which Scarlet Knights they thought should symbolize the 75 years of history of this program.  Each one of these guys have built the foundation that certainly each and every men's soccer player that comes to Rutgers strives to build upon.  I have had the honor of playing with or working with a number of these individuals and they were most certainly not only some of the best soccer players at Rutgers, but also the country."

The 75th Anniversary Rutgers Men's Soccer team was compiled from fan votes at ScarletKnights.com throughout the fall.

BILL ANDRACKI (1990-91)

Bill Andracki was named an All-American following a trip to the National Championship match in 1990. In 1990, he kept both Evansville and UCLA from scoring before Rutgers ultimately fell to the Bruins in a penalty kick shootout. In two seasons, Andracki recorded 23 shutouts which is fourth on the Rutgers all-time list and 171 saves which ranks seventh in RU history.

 

ART BRINKMANN (1952-55)

The first Scarlet Knight to have his jersey retired, Art Brinkmann was one of the founders of Rutgers Soccer. He was the program’s first All-American, claiming the honor in 1954, and holds the school record with six goals in a match. A three-time All-East selection, he scored 49 career goals.  Brinkmann was an alternate member of the United States Olympic Team that competed in the Summer Games in Helsinki, Finland.

 

JON CONWAY (1996-98)

One of the nation’s best and most intimidating goalkeepers, Jon Conway earned several All-America awards following the 1999 season, a season in which Rutgers won the BIG EAST Regular Season title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.  Conway turned in one of the best single-season efforts in RU history, recording a 0.88 GAA, including a league-best 0.48 mark in BIG EAST play.  He turned away 11 shots in a 0-0, double-overtime tie with No. 8 St. John’s, on his way to six shutouts on the season.  Conway earned Second Team NCSAA honors, as well as Second Team honors from Soccer Times and Soccer America.  He was also chosen to participate in the Umbro Select All-Star Classic following the season. Conway went on to be a third-round selection of the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft.

 

LINO DICUOLLO (1988-91)

Recognized as one of the nation’s premier forwards during his career, Lino DiCuollo was a 1989 All-America choice following a year in which he was also named Atlantic 10 East Division Player of the Year. In his four years, he led Rutgers to a 71-15-8 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He stands third on the Rutgers career points list with 122, third on the goals scored list with 48 and fourth on the assist list with 26.

 

BOBBY JOE ESPOSITO (1983-86)

Bobby Joe Esposito was one of the most prolific scorers in Rutgers history. In his four-year career, he led Rutgers in goals, points, game-winning goals and multiple-goal games. He finished his career with 50 goals which ranks second all-time, 25 career assists and 125 points. He started every game of his career (76) and recorded 16 multiple-goal games. Following his freshman season he was named one of Soccer America’s Top 10 freshmen. In 1986, he led the team with 15 goals and four assists and was named an All-American. A stellar student, he was an Academic All-American in 1986 as well, and played in the 1986 Senior Bowl. Following his career, Esposito spent six years playing professionally in the MISL and NPSL.

 

DAVID GRIMALDI (1973-77)

David Grimaldi was described by his coaches as one of the best soccer players in the nation.  A sweeper and midfielder during his times “On The Banks,” Grimaldi became the first player in Rutgers history to be drafted by a team in the NASL.  He was selected in the first round of the 1977 draft by the Dallas Tornadoes.  Grimaldi was also a member of the 1976 United State Olympic Team.

 

ALEXI LALAS (1988-91)

Three-time All-American and 1991 consensus National Player of the Year, Alexi Lalas became one of the most recognizable American athletes in the world. In his four years as a Scarlet Knight, he led RU to three NCAA tournaments, including a National Semifinal in 1989 and National Championship game in 1990.  In 1989 and 1990, he was named a Third-Team All-American and in 1991, he was recognized as the nation’s finest college soccer player winning the Hermann Award and the Missouri Athletic Club Trophy. That year, he was also named First-Team All-American. He was also a four-time Mid-Atlantic Region choice as well as three-time Atlantic 10 selection. A three-time captain and the only Rutgers soccer player to receive three All-America honors, Lalas was the guiding force to a 15-match unbeaten streak and Rutgers’ first No. 1 ranking in the history of the program during his senior year. In August 2006, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

 

PEDRO LOPES (1990-94)

Pedro Lopes, a two-time All-American, played in four NCAA Tournaments, including two Final Fours during his storied collegiate career. He was named the Atlantic-10 Player of the Year in 1994, when Rutgers advanced to the Final Four for the third time in five seasons. He spearheaded a defense that allowed just 10 goals in 1990, 93 and 94. He scored the game-winning goal in the 1993 Atlantic 10 Championship game and started all 86 games in his collegiate career. Upon graduation, he played professionally with the N.J. Imperials.

 

DAVE MASUR (1982-84)

Dave Masur was a two-time All-American and a three-year captain. During those three seasons, Masur keyed the Scarlet Knights to a combined 35-14-6 record. A 17-0-2 mark in 1983 garnered Rutgers its first NCAA Tournament berth in 22 years. That season, he was the third-leading scorer on the team with four goals and six assists  A participant in the 1984 Senior Bowl, he graduated as Rutgers’ eighth all-time assist leader and 13th in all-time points.

 

DAVE MUELLER (1987-90)

Dave Mueller played for Rutgers from 1987-90 and made three NCAA appearances, including two Final Fours and an appearance in the 1990 NCAA National Championship Game. He is tops on the RU all-time assist charts, recording 28 for his career. A ball-handling wizard, Mueller was considered one of the Scarlet Knights’ best-ever central midfielders. 

 

STEVE RAMMEL (1989-90)

Steve Rammel led his team to back-to-back Final Fours in 1989 and 1990, earning All-American honors in 1990. He led RU to the National Championship game his senior season. A runner-up for the Hermann Trophy in 1990, Rammel recorded 17 goals in each of his two years at Rutgers. He is ranked ninth all-time in scoring with 84 career points. Following his Scarlet Knight career, Rammel was an All-Star with the DC United of the MLS, becoming the first player ever in MLS history to record a hat trick.

HERB SCHMIDT (1959-61)

Herb Schmidt is the first two-time soccer All-American in Rutgers history. A stalwart scorer from 1959-1961, he also served as the team’s captain in his senior year and was an All-Mid Atlantic selection. Considered the premier midfielder of his time, he tallied 90 goals, 23 his sophomore year, 33 as a junior and 34 as a senior. In 1960, Rutgers finished the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record, but lost a 4-3 overtime decision to Maryland in the NCAA tournament.

 

PETER VERMES (1985-87)

A 1987 First-Team All-American and runner-up for National Player of the Year, Vermes put together one of the finest careers in Rutgers sports history. He ranks seventh in all-time points (89), goals scored (35), 10th in assists (19) and second in game-winning goals (15). In 1987, he earned First-Team All-America honors after scoring 21 goals, 15 assists for 52 points and leading Rutgers to the Region Finals of the NCAA Tournament. He went on to star for the U.S. National team as a member of the 1988 Olympic team and the 1990 World Cup team. As a professional soccer player, Vermes was the first American to play in both Holland’s and Hungary’s First Division. The 29th overall pick in the 1996 Inaugural Major League Soccer Draft by the MetroStars, Vermes spent seven seasons in the MLS.

 

JEFF ZAUN (1989-93)

An All-American and National Player of the Year candidate, Jeff Zaun starred at Rutgers from 1989-1993, leading the Scarlet Knights to a pair of Final Fours, including the NCAA Championship match in 1990. In 1991, Zaun recorded four game-winning goals, guiding the Scarlet Knights to a 19-3-1 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final national poll. A three-time captain, Zaun earned a pair of NSCAA All-Region selections. In his rookie campaign, he was named the Atlantic-10 Freshman of the Year in 1989. He went on to earn several All-Atlantic 10 laurels the following years. Upon graduation, Zaun continued his soccer career at the professional level, playing a total of four seasons in the MLS as a member of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and the Chicago Fire.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMensSoccer) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.

 

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