No. 15 Rutgers goes 1-1 over weekend for 3rd consecutive time
For the first time since 2008, the Rutgers field hockey team has a chance to win 10 games in a season. Going 1-1 over the weekend, the Scarlet Knights moved their record to a solid 9-4, with four games remaining on their schedule.
On Friday, Rutgers traveled to College Park to take on the No. 2 ranked team in the country, Maryland (13-1). The result was a hard fought 3-1 loss for the Knights.
In the game, the Terrapins struck early and often, scoring all three of their goals in the first 15 minutes of the game. Rutgers’ lone goal was scored by freshman forward Tayla Parkes, and was assisted by senior midfielder Nikki Profita.
Maryland outshot the Knights 18-5 in the game, while also taking twice as many corners — which it scored twice off of.
After the game Friday, Rutgers returned home on Sunday to host non-conference opponent Georgetown (9-4). The game was a dominant 7-0 victory for the team, moving its win total to nine games and tying its win total from last year, when the team went 9-9.
In the 7-0 rout, many Knights were able to contribute. Sophomore midfielder Daphne Groothuis added to her goal and assist total, scoring 2 goals while assisting on 2 more.
Senior midfielder Linde van Schaik also had 2 goals in the game. In total, five players scored a goal in the victory.
With her 2 goals in the game, van Schaik now moves into seventh place all-time in goals for Rutgers field hockey with 23, and seventh all time in points with 61. The multi-goal game for Groothuis was the third of her career and first of the season.
Groothuis has led the team in every offensive category all season, and she added to her lead by taking 10 shots and putting eight of them on goal.
“We started off pressing them really hard, and that’s how we created a lot of turnovers so I was able to get a lot of shots off,” Groothuis said.
All season long, sophomore goalkeeper Gianna Glatz has been superb in the box. Now with six shutouts on the season, Glatz and the defense have the most in program history since 1999.
Head coach Meredith Civico was also very pleased with the team’s performance.
“I think the team played well today, we had some really great goals,” Civico said. “I think the effort by both of our goalkeepers was tremendous securing the shutout.”
With four games remaining on the season, the Knights will take on three Big Ten opponents, two of whom are ranked.
Rutgers will see No. 12 Northwestern on Friday, followed by Indiana on Sunday, in what should be a good weekend of field hockey on the road.
“We have to stay focused on staying disciplined and playing our hockey,” Civico said regarding the upcoming schedule, which will be make or break for Rutgers to have a high seed in the Big Ten Tournament and be able to host a first round game. “Each game coming up poses its own challenge, we’re looking to take care of business one game at a time.”
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