Rutgers field hockey defensive struggles continue in overtime loss to Indiana
The Rutgers field hockey team finished its two-game road trip winless, falling short in both contests over the weekend. The Scarlet Knights (4-6, 1-3) fell to Indiana 4-3 on Sunday, just days after a 4-0 beating from Northwestern on Friday.
The Hoosiers (4-6, 1-3) were down a goal entering the fourth, but they equalized in the 52nd minute and, ultimately, won the game in overtime. Rutgers' trend of blowing leads late persists into October.
Rewinding to the first quarter, senior midfielder Paulina Niklaus started the scoring in the 7th minute. Niklaus scored her 4th goal of the season thanks to assists from senior midfielder Guillermina Causarano and redshirt junior midfielder Vicky Jure.
Aside from a save from redshirt senior goalkeeper Sophia Howard, the rest of the first quarter was quiet. Inés Garcia Prado tied the game almost instantly to start the second, scoring her 4th goal of the season after 42 seconds of play.
The Knights would respond 5 minutes later, with Niklaus scoring her 2nd goal of the afternoon. Mirroring her 1st goal, it was Causarano and Jure on the assist once again.
Following the goal, Rutgers' defense stepped up significantly to close out the half. The Knights blocked five shots in the final 10 minutes, and Howard anchored down for three more saves.
Echoing her second-quarter start, Garcia Prado opened up the third with another instant goal to tie up the game.
The Niklaus-Garcia Prado shootout wouldn't end there, though, with Niklaus answering back and completing the hat trick for the first time in her career in the 40th minute. This time, Jure and redshirt senior forward Bridy Molyneaux were on the assist.
Rutgers entered the fourth up 1 goal, but it didn't stay that way for long. Sofia Arrebola Garcia was the one to tie up the game, scoring her 1st goal of the season. Indiana goalkeeper Sadie Canelli made a crucial save in the 54th minute to keep the game level.
If you've been keeping count, Garcia Prado was still down a goal compared to Niklaus. With her knack to score early, Garcia Prado completed a hat trick of her own in the 62nd minute to propel the Hoosiers to an overtime victory.
The Knights will go back to the drawing board before they hit the road once again to face Michigan on Friday in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game will begin at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.
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