No. 4 Rutgers women's soccer travels to Bloomington to face Indiana
After clinching the first Big Ten team title for the athletic program since joining in 2014 this Thursday, the Rutgers women’s soccer team will travel to Bloomington to face Indiana. This will be the penultimate game of the regular season and the first of back-to-back road games.
The No. 4 Scarlet Knights (13-2-0, 8-0-0) previous 1-0 win against Michigan State marked their ninth consecutive win, a new program record for successive victories. Before that game, Rutgers celebrated Senior Day, honoring its 11 senior players.
“Their energy was unbelievable, and it was special to get the 1-0 victory on Senior Day,” said head women’s soccer coach Mike O’Neill. “I can’t thank this group enough.”
The Knights dominated the first half, outshooting the Spartans (9-3-3, 4-3-1) 10-1. Sophomore forward Allison Lowrey scored Rutgers’ lone goal of the match from a 61st-minute corner, recording the 4th goal of her 12-point season. Freshman forward Riley Tiernan assisted the goal, marking her 10th assist of the season. She leads the team and the Big Ten in assists this season.
The Knights held their own for the entire match, only allowing four shots the whole game. Rutgers’ defense also allowed zero shots on goal the entire match, marking Michigan State’s lowest shot on goal tally for the season. The Knights also tallied their highest shot total, 33, in a single game this year.
The Hoosiers (9-3-4, 3-2-3) drew their last game 0-0 against Maryland on Sunday. Indiana saw its 10th shutout of the season, setting a new program record for the Hoosiers. Jamie Gerstenberg recorded her ninth of the season, tying the team's individual player record for single-season shutouts.
In Big Ten standings, Rutgers doubles Indiana’s points 24-12. Thursday’s matchup will pit the Big Ten’s best offensive and defensive players against each other. While senior midfielder Frankie Tagliaferri holds a top-five spot in both goals and assists, Gerstenberg averages the most shutouts per game. The Hoosiers’ top goal scorers Jordyn Levy and Jen Blitchok will look to add to the stat sheet.
The match between the Knights and the Hoosiers will be streamed on Big Ten Network+ and broadcasted for radio listeners on 88.7 WRSU. Live stats will be provided at kickoff.
"Women's soccer — they're just amazing," said University President Jonathan Holloway in an interview with The Daily Targum. "I've made probably half of their Sunday home games. They're just fun to watch."
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