Rutgers women's soccer falls to Michigan in Big Ten Tournament final
The Rutgers women’s soccer team ends their historic Big Ten season with a loss Sunday afternoon against No. 3 seed Michigan at Yurcak Field.
The No. 4 Scarlet Knights (17-3-0, 10-0-0) program-record 13 straight victories came to a close after their 1-0 loss against a strong Wolverine (15-3-3, 6-2-2) side. With a record 5,103 in attendance, the Knights gave their all until the final whistle but could not manage a victory to cap off the conference season.
Michigan overpowered Rutgers in the first half, outshooting them 10-1. The game-winning goal of the match came from the Wolverines' leading goal scorer, Raleigh Loughman.
Sammi Woods assisted the match’s lone goal in the 26th minute after a decisive pass splitting two defenders. Michigan’s backline contently held the Knights to zero shots on target for the whole first half.
For the remainder of the game, Rutgers increased their shooting vigor with eight total shots but could not finish chances on target as Hillary Beall totaled three saves to secure her clean sheet.
Freshman back Kylie Daigle lead the Knights with three shots as senior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland registered four saves.
Senior back Gabby Provenzano was taken off the field with an injury in the last minute of the game. Provenzano had played in all 19 games so far this season.
Rutgers had bested the Wolverines 4-1 in their previous meeting this season but could not replicate the same attacking force this time out.
Michigan defeated No. 2 seed Purdue to secure their placement in the finals. The team's last Big Ten Tournament final appearance was in 2019, while its previous Big Ten Tournament victory dates back to 1999.
Coincidentally, as the women’s soccer Big Ten Tournament championship heads back to Ann Arbor, the Knights' field hockey team defeated Michigan a few hours earlier to secure their Big Ten Tournament title.
Rutgers will await the NCAA tournament selections on Monday at 4:30 p.m. to see where they fall in the national bracket.
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