PISCATWAY, N.J. – In his first two seasons, Rutgers men’s soccer center midfielder Matthew Acosta has been one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for the Scarlet Knights. In 35 career games, the sophomore from Annandale, New Jersey has totaled 2,795 minutes of gameplay, seven points and one of the biggest goals of the entire 2022 season. Acosta opening tally in the fourth minute of the Big Ten Tournament Championship helped lead the team to a 3-1 win over the Indiana. His second-ever collegiate score came at the perfect time for Rutgers men’s soccer to claim the program’s first ever Big Ten title.
You love to see it from Matty 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4J338HgJOM
— Rutgers Men’s Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) November 13, 2022
Another look at the goal that started it all in the #B1GMSOC Championship 🤩#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/DtqeU1rojo
— Rutgers Men’s Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) November 15, 2022
A product of the New York Red Bulls Academy, Acosta has had some big moments as a core member of the team along with veteran players such as Jackson Temple, Chris Tiao, Jason Bouregy and Joey Zalinksy, just to name a few. As he has become a big piece for this program, his contributions have made a large impact and helped to forge new opportunities for the Scarlet Knights.
In his freshman season, Acosta recorded over 1,300 minutes, the second most on the team, in 17 games played. Acosta started every matchup and averaged 80 minutes per game. He totaled his first career assist on the game winning goal against Penn and followed up with a second helper in Big Ten play against Michigan State. That season, he would end up unanimously earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman team, while also ranking as the 51st in the 2021 Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Freshman Poll. As his rookie year made a strong first impression, his sophomore year saw more production.
Acosta’s second fall “On The Banks” showed why he’s become such a vital part of the team. He was chosen along with two other Scarlet Knights as a Big Ten Player to watch.
Matt Acosta, Jackson Temple and MD Myers are our #B1GMSOC Players to Watch 👀⚽️
📰: https://t.co/pNNKm9rjRh#GoRU | #RUMS pic.twitter.com/vPTdAOaKtd
— Rutgers Men’s Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) August 22, 2022
The sophomore increased his time on the pitch by over 1,000 minutes and…
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