Rutgers men’s soccer signs six incoming freshmen and two transfers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men’s soccer welcomes the addition of two transfers and six incoming freshmen to the 2022 roster, as announced by head coach Jim McElderry.

“My staff and I are very excited about this group of new players joining our team for the 2022 season,” said McElderry. “I want to thank my staff for their hard work this year Since arriving at Rutgers, we have put an emphasis on attracting the top players in New Jersey to Rutgers. This year is no different as we feel we have four of the best players in New Jersey choosing to represent their state university: MD Meyers, Ian Abbey, Nestor Cabrera, and Evan Gomillion.”

McElderry continued: “We are excited to welcome four players from outside the state: Cole Cruthers from Oregon, Sam Delgado from Maryland, William Baker from New York City, and Nick Spittle from Toronto, Canada. All eight of these student-athletes fit well into our positional needs and will add to the positive culture of our returning group. We have many quality and experienced players returning for the 2022 season to go along with our new additions. I cannot wait to see what the 2022 team can do while representing New Jersey and Rutgers University. I know we will make the state and the alums proud to cheer for us in 2022.”

See below for a look at the full Rutgers men’s soccer signing class. To hear McElderry’s comments on each player, click here.

Ian Abbey
Elmer, NJ | Forward

• Incoming freshman out of the Philadelphia Union Academy
• Appeared with Philadelphia Union II in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship
• A student-athlete from YSC Academy

William Baker
New York, NY | Midfielder

• Incoming freshman from the Metropolitan Oval Academy
• Leads Met Oval so far this season with six goals and three assists competing in MLS NEXT
• MLS NEXT playoff qualifier with Met Oval

Nestor Cabrera
Raritan, NJ | Midfielder

• Incoming freshman with high-level club soccer experience with PDA, New York Red Bulls Academy, and Queensboro FC in the United Soccer League Academy
• Trained and competed with the Guatemala National Team from the U17 to U20 levels
• A Bridgewater-Raritan high schooler, originated from the Bridgewater Soccer Association (BSA) of the Elite Development Program

Cole Cruthers
Portland, OR | Midfielder

• Incoming freshman from the Timbers FC Academy
• Invited to the U.S. Soccer Boys National Team Futures Camp in 2017
• Came up through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy

Sam Delgado
Vienna, VA | Forward

• Incoming freshman from the Bethesda Soccer Club Academy
• Prolific scorer in MLS NEXT with 25 goals in 24 appearances
• Took Bethesda to the U17 MLS NEXT playoffs
• The James Madison high schooler also played lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and golf

Evan Gomillion
Scotch Plains, NJ | Center Back

• Incoming freshman from the Players Development Academy (PDA)
• Starred on the MLS NEXT Cup U17 National Finalist PDA team, scoring a goal in the national semifinals
• Topped developmental clubs from FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders en route to the championship game

MD Myers
Delran, NJ | Forward

• Senior transfer from High Point
• Product of Philadelphia Union Academy
• Named to the All-Big South First Team
• Recorded 51 career points at High Point on 21 goals and nine assists
• At the end of the 2020 regular season, tied for the most goals in Division I soccer with 14

Nick Spittle
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Forward

• Sophomore transfer from Seneca of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA)
• Product of Vaughan Soccer Club
• Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Champion with Durham College
• Ranked second in goals scored in the Central Division