Rutgers women's soccer to finish non-conference play against NC State
Up against NC State on Sunday, the Rutgers women's soccer team is looking for its third straight victory. The Scarlet Knights (3-1-1, 0-0) comfortably won 3-0 against Maine on Sunday, handing the Black Bears (2-1-2, 0-0) their first defeat of the season.
Heading into the matchup against the Wolfpack (2-2-1, 0-0), Rutgers is in red-hot form. In its last two games, it has scored 6 goals and held both opponents scoreless.
Offensively, the Knights have found a way to score without senior forward Gia Girman. Senior forward Riley Tiernan has stepped up to lead the attack, scoring and assisting in the last two matches. Players like junior forward Allie Post and redshirt freshman forward Reilly McGlinn have gotten more minutes and also have made a difference on the pitch.
On the back line, senior defender Emily Mason and her center-back partner, senior defender Kassidy Banks, are a huge reason why Rutgers has held its last two opponents to 0 goals and only 11 shots, only five of which were on net. The pair have also been notably recognized as Big Ten players to watch this season.
Head coach Mike O'Neill has entrusted a lot of the squad's playing time to his freshman class. With the addition of eight first-year players, O'Neill has already slotted midfielders Shaela Bradley and Gabriela Gil into the Knights' starting lineup.
On the other end, NC State cannot be overlooked. Like Rutgers, the Wolfpack are on a two-game winning streak, defeating VCU 5-0 and Charlotte 3-1. German midfielder Annika Wohner has a team-high 4 goals and an assist. Transferring from New Hampshire, Alivia Kelly was listed as an NCAA Division I Defender to Watch. With the Wildcats (4-1-1, 0-0), Kelly started all 60 games and was named the America East Defender of the Year in 2023.
Last season, the Knights and NC State played to a 1-1 tie in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a close game, with both teams attempting more than 10 shots.
In its final non-conference match, Rutgers will be looking to make it three in a row for the first time this season against the Wolfpack on Sunday. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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