Friday, September 19
Evanston, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
5-2-1, 1-1-0
2
vs
1
Rutgers
4-2-1, 1-1-0
1
2
F
Rutgers
1
0
1
Northwestern
2
0
2
Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Earns Gutsy 2-1 Win Over Rutgers
9/19/2025 10:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
'Cats notch first Big Ten victory of 2025
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 19, 2025) — Minutes after the final whistle solidified Northwestern's 2-1 victory over Rutgers on Friday evening at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, players and coaches alike remained in utter disbelief.
While Aaron O'Reilly and Alejandro Martinez Santamaria gave the Wildcats (5-2-1, 1-1 B1G) an early 2-0 cushion, Northwestern clung to a one-goal lead in the closing five minutes.
What followed was pure pandemonium: a missed Scarlet Knight penalty kick from their most potent marksman, two Rutgers reverberations off the crossbar and a goal-line clearance in the closing minutes. Still, the hosts held on for their first Big Ten win in 2025.
"This is one of the craziest games I've ever played in — a real roller coaster at the end," senior defender Nigel Prince said. "But that's what it takes, especially in the Big Ten, where margins are slim."
Through the season's first seven matches, Joe Suchecki had provided Northwestern's earliest tally in the 42nd minute against Air Force. But the Wildcats, fresh off a three-goal second half against UC Riverside, launched an early attacking onslaught Friday.
Less than five minutes into the match, Andrew Johnson flipped a throw-in toward Martinez Santamaria. The Santander, Spain native found O'Reilly, who buried the game's first shot in the back of the net.
"We've played eight games and had chances like that at the beginning, first five, 10 minutes every game," head coach Russell Payne said. "But we don't convert them. Converting the chances was the difference tonight."
Martinez Santamaria extended his team-high assist count to six on the feed. Soon, he'd showcase his goalscoring acumen for the first time as a Wildcat.
Off fellow transfer Baraka Tarleton's pinpoint through ball, Martinez Santamaria converted into the bottom left corner on an 18th-minute finish to extend the hosts' lead to 2-0.
"It's all him, I just made the run," Martinez Santamaria said of Tarleton. "That was probably the hardest pass of the whole season, and he made it because he's a great player. We have that roommate connection, and we finally got to see it."
Prince attributed Northwestern's flying start to both a palpable shift since the second half against UC Riverside, along with proper preparation.
"In that first half, we allowed [Riverside] to come at us and dictate the pace, take the tone," Prince said. "Now, we're coming out and running through everything — running through tackles, running through shots and just starting off quickly."
In the 30th minute, Rutgers pulled one back to set up a 2-1 halftime scoreline. Senior goalkeeper Rafael Ponce de León recorded five first-half saves to preserve the advantage.
Following an offensive-laden first 45 minutes, where the teams combined for 20 first-half shots, the game's complexity shifted into a gritty battle in the midfield. While the Scarlet Knights pushed for an equalizer, the Wildcats settled into a more defensive approach in search of their first conference victory this season.
When Rutgers received a penalty kick following a foul inside the 18-yard box, Joschi Schelb, the Scarlet Knights' leading scorer with six goals entering Friday's match, stepped up to the spot. Schelb's shot clanked the crossbar. Immediately thereafter, the visitors nearly nullified the miss with a last-gasp equalizer, but the Northwestern back line slammed the door shut on the goalmouth.
"I never want another three minutes like that again," Payne said. "We're still learning to become a more mature team. That's a growth area, but I told the guys, 'I love the fact that we're gritty and we're a gutsy team. Gutsy teams can find a way to win games, and we found a way to win.'"
Northwestern will face Maryland on Friday, September 26 in College Park, Md. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT at Ludwig Field.
Gallery: (9-19-2025) Men's Soccer vs. Rutgers
While Aaron O'Reilly and Alejandro Martinez Santamaria gave the Wildcats (5-2-1, 1-1 B1G) an early 2-0 cushion, Northwestern clung to a one-goal lead in the closing five minutes.
What followed was pure pandemonium: a missed Scarlet Knight penalty kick from their most potent marksman, two Rutgers reverberations off the crossbar and a goal-line clearance in the closing minutes. Still, the hosts held on for their first Big Ten win in 2025.
"This is one of the craziest games I've ever played in — a real roller coaster at the end," senior defender Nigel Prince said. "But that's what it takes, especially in the Big Ten, where margins are slim."
Through the season's first seven matches, Joe Suchecki had provided Northwestern's earliest tally in the 42nd minute against Air Force. But the Wildcats, fresh off a three-goal second half against UC Riverside, launched an early attacking onslaught Friday.
Less than five minutes into the match, Andrew Johnson flipped a throw-in toward Martinez Santamaria. The Santander, Spain native found O'Reilly, who buried the game's first shot in the back of the net.
"We've played eight games and had chances like that at the beginning, first five, 10 minutes every game," head coach Russell Payne said. "But we don't convert them. Converting the chances was the difference tonight."
Martinez Santamaria extended his team-high assist count to six on the feed. Soon, he'd showcase his goalscoring acumen for the first time as a Wildcat.
Off fellow transfer Baraka Tarleton's pinpoint through ball, Martinez Santamaria converted into the bottom left corner on an 18th-minute finish to extend the hosts' lead to 2-0.
"It's all him, I just made the run," Martinez Santamaria said of Tarleton. "That was probably the hardest pass of the whole season, and he made it because he's a great player. We have that roommate connection, and we finally got to see it."
Prince attributed Northwestern's flying start to both a palpable shift since the second half against UC Riverside, along with proper preparation.
"In that first half, we allowed [Riverside] to come at us and dictate the pace, take the tone," Prince said. "Now, we're coming out and running through everything — running through tackles, running through shots and just starting off quickly."
In the 30th minute, Rutgers pulled one back to set up a 2-1 halftime scoreline. Senior goalkeeper Rafael Ponce de León recorded five first-half saves to preserve the advantage.
Following an offensive-laden first 45 minutes, where the teams combined for 20 first-half shots, the game's complexity shifted into a gritty battle in the midfield. While the Scarlet Knights pushed for an equalizer, the Wildcats settled into a more defensive approach in search of their first conference victory this season.
When Rutgers received a penalty kick following a foul inside the 18-yard box, Joschi Schelb, the Scarlet Knights' leading scorer with six goals entering Friday's match, stepped up to the spot. Schelb's shot clanked the crossbar. Immediately thereafter, the visitors nearly nullified the miss with a last-gasp equalizer, but the Northwestern back line slammed the door shut on the goalmouth.
"I never want another three minutes like that again," Payne said. "We're still learning to become a more mature team. That's a growth area, but I told the guys, 'I love the fact that we're gritty and we're a gutsy team. Gutsy teams can find a way to win games, and we found a way to win.'"
Northwestern will face Maryland on Friday, September 26 in College Park, Md. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT at Ludwig Field.
Team Stats
RU
NU
Goals
1
2
Shots
17
13
Shots on Goal
6
5
Saves
3
5
Corners
4
4
Fouls
10
10
Scoring Plays
Aaron O'Reilly (2)
Assisted By: Alejandro Martinez Santamaria , Andrew Johnson
GOAL by NU O'Reilly, Aaron Assist by Martinez Santamaria, Alejandro and Johnson, Andrew.
04:28
Alejandro Martinez Santamaria (1)
Assisted By: Baraka Tarleton
GOAL by NU Martinez Santamaria, Alejandro Assist by Tarleton, Baraka.
17:31
0
GOAL by RU TEAM.
29:04
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's SoccerM
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