'I like this team a lot': Rutgers women's soccer is looking for even more in 2024
The Rutgers women’s soccer team is gearing up for its highly-anticipated 2024 season. The Scarlet Knights will be looking to improve on the 2023 season that saw them fall in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
With 10 seniors who departed the program in the offseason, it’s a much younger squad for Rutgers this season, consisting of eight freshmen and 13 sophomores. Despite this, Mike O’Neill, who is entering his 11th season as head coach, is confident with the team he has for this season.
“The blessing is we have depth,” he said. “You can’t replace people because everybody is different, but what you can continue to do is bring in talent. What you can continue to do is develop talent. I look at our sophomore class that came back this year, they’re good, and they got better. We’re gonna lean on those players that have experience and we’re gonna lean on those players that have developed along the way.”
The Knights have a void in the offense, as last season’s leading goal scorer, Allison Lowrey, transferred to Texas A&M this summer. She scored 6 goals last season, including a hat trick in a 7-0 win against FDU. Sophomore forward Ashley Baran is expected to have an even bigger role this season after scoring 3 goals last year, with two of them coming in the final three games of the season. Senior forward Riley Tiernan was named a Big Ten Player to Watch and will be a big part of the attack as well. She had 3 goals and four assists last season and is among the few seniors on the squad. "I think (Tiernan) is one of the best-attacking players that I have had the opportunity to coach," O'Neill said. "I think she's one of the best players in the country ... (Tiernan)'s ability to run in behind the defense, her ability to take players on, her understanding tactically on when to capitalize on her opportunity or make that extra pass. I believe that that's contagious.
In the midfield, Rutgers lost two key players: Sara Brocious and Sam Kroeger. They both had two goals and three assists and started more than 11 games last season. Brocious transferred to TCU, and Kroeger joined USL Super League side Brooklyn FC.
The defense suffered the biggest blow this summer when three players left the program. Becci Fluchel graduated, Emma Misal transferred to South Carolina and Naila Schoefberger transferred to Mississippi State. Allison Lynch is now a part of the coaching staff and serves as the Director of Player Development. The Knights still have their center-back duo in junior defenders Emily Mason and Kassidy Banks, who were also named Big Ten Players to Watch.
Between the posts, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer will look to have an even better year on the Banks. Last season, Bodmer totaled nine shutouts, owned an 81 percent save percentage and had a 0.85 goals-against average in her rookie campaign.
“I think (Bodmer) is one of the best in the country,” O’Neill said. “Just getting that experience and getting ready for this season, she spent a lot of time in the offseason getting ready and getting healthy.”
With a new-look team this season, Rutgers still has the same goals as always. The Knights will be looking to challenge for a Big Ten title and earn their 13th-straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Rutgers will begin the 2024 season on the road against NJIT on Thursday. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. “I like the team a lot," O'Neill said. "The expectation for us is that we always compete for championships, and this year the expectations are no different.”
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