No. 8 Rutgers women's soccer remains undefeated in Big Ten play with win over Iowa
The Rutgers women’s soccer team bested Iowa 1-0 Sunday at noon. The win marks the No. 8 Scarlet Knights' (11-2-0, 6-0-0) sixth consecutive win in Big Ten play.
The match got off to a fairly slow start. While Rutgers led in shots on goal, 5-2, both keepers had tremendous stops to keep the game tied going into halftime. The Knights almost took the lead in the 66th minute with a through ball played to senior midfielder Frankie Tagliaferri. However, Monica Wilhelm tipped the shot onto the crossbar, keeping the game 0-0.
At the 74-minute mark, the Hawkeyes' (8-5-1, 2-4-0) Rielee Fetty conceded a handball in the box which resulted in a penalty kick for Rutgers. Sophomore midfielder Becci Fluchel capitalized on the penalty kick giving the Knights a 1-0 lead in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Rutgers kept its pace until the final whistle to end the second half and seal the victory. Fluchel’s clutch game-winning goal marks the second of her career since her last penalty goal against Penn State.
The Knights’ seven-game winning streak is their longest since their 2017 season. The win also marks senior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland’s sixth clean sheet of the season as she made three saves.
Rutgers' stats put it among the best teams in the country and the best in the Big Ten. The Knights dominate the conference with 41 total goals, ranking fifth in the country and averaging over 3 scores per game. Individually, Tagliaferri is in the top 15 in the country for total goals with 10.
Rutgers will travel to College Park, Maryland to face the Terrapins (4-6-4, 0-4-2) at 7 p.m. this Thursday. Maryland recently lost to Iowa in a shutout victory. The match will be streamed on Big Ten Network+ and broadcast for radio listeners on 88.7 WRSU. Live stats will be provided at kickoff.
For updates on the Rutgers women's soccer team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
