No. 8 Rutgers women's soccer ties with Minnesota
In a contest where the Rutgers women's soccer team led to start both the first and second half, the No. 8 Scarlet Knights (12-1-2, 4-1-2) finished tied at 2-2 after 90 minutes of action today against Minnesota. For the first time this season, Rutgers tied with an opponent at Yurcak Field on Busch campus.
Within the first 3 minutes of the game, sophomore forward Riley Tiernan scored the 1st strike of the game off the Knights' first shot attempt. Junior midfielder Sam Kroeger fed a chance that Tiernan took the second she reached it.
Even though Rutgers had the lead early, the Golden Gophers (6-7-2, 2-4-1) answered right back before the 15-minute mark. Sophia Boman scored the first equalizing goal off a pass from Sadie Harper.
Boman, the program’s leading points scorer, notched home her 4th goal of the year with a blistering shot.
To finish the half, the Knights would continue to press forward with several more offensive chances, as Tiernan and sophomore midfielder Kylie Daigle each had a shot during the remainder of the half.
Minnesota outshot Rutgers 5-3 after 45 minutes, where things would be even at 1-1.
To begin the second half, senior defensive back Allison Lynch regained the lead for the Knights with a diving header goal in the 53rd minute. Daigle found Lynch diving in front of the crease to score Rutgers’ 2nd goal of the game.
Following the go-ahead goal, the Knights continued with the offensive attack, but in the 60th minute, Gabbie Cesarone tied things up when graduate student goalkeeper Meagan McClelland knocked a loose ball off Cesarone in front of the goal. For the second time, Rutgers conceded the game-tying goal just minutes after gaining the lead.
The half would finish with nine shots from the Knights, where for the remaining 30 minutes would be offensive chance after offensive chance being turned aside. Both teams finished the game after 90 minutes tied 2-2.
For the first time at home this season, Rutgers tied against an opponent, making their record at Yurcak Field 8-0-1. The team currently remains behind Northwestern, Michigan State and Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings. In this game, the Knights outshot the Gophers 12-10 while committing one fewer foul.
Luckily for Rutgers, the teams gets to play the Badgers (10-2-2, 5-2-0) in their final regular season home game on Sunday. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. and be broadcasted on Big Ten Network+.
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