Big Ten Tournament: Rutgers women's soccer knocks off No. 16 Michigan State in overtime, advances to semifinals
A match that will go down in the history books.
The Rutgers women’s soccer team defeated Michigan State 2-1 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Scarlet Knights (11-3-4, 6-2-3) conceded just 1 minute into the contest but responded quickly and ultimately prevailed in extra time, scoring the game-winning golden goal.
No. 16 Michigan State wasted no time, taking the lead just 31 seconds into the game. Off a throw-in, the Spartans crossed the ball into the box, which hit off freshman defender Claire Hammill. After review, it was deemed that the ball crossed the line despite the heroic efforts of redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer.
Rutgers came inches away from leveling the game in the 5th minute, as senior forward Riley Tiernan played the ball over to sophomore forward Ashley Baran, but her shot flew over the crossbar. Seconds later, junior midfielder Allie Post blasted a shot straight into the hands of Michigan State goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks.
The press from the Knights would finally pay off in the 31st minute on a well-worked goal. Tiernan played a pass over to senior forward Gia Girman, who slotted the ball past Parks and into the back of the net for her 2nd goal of the season. It was Tiernan’s 10th assist of the season and 33rd of her career.
“We kinda just pressed as a team and then (Tiernan) picked it off and I finished,” Girman said on the goal.
Following the goal, redshift freshman forward Reilly McGlinn and Post had chances flash wide.
The score was tied 1-1 at halftime, but Rutgers fully controlled the game. The Knights outshot the Spartans 13-5, but the former had seven shots on goal to the latter’s none.
Michigan State dominated at the start of the second half, while Rutgers played more defensively and struggled to break forward.
Bodmer made an outstanding kick save in the 79th minute, denying Mackenzie Anthony on the Spartans’ first shot on target in the contest. Minutes later, Renee Watson had a golden chance on goal, but senior defender Kassidy Banks tracked back to block the shot and deflect it away.
Bodmer was tested again in the 88th minute, as Bella Najera’s free-kick was going to fly into the top right corner, but Bodmer rose to tip the ball over the crossbar.
After 90 minutes, the score was tied at 1-1, sending the game to a golden goal extra time.
Despite being outplayed for the second half, the Knights scored the game-winning goal from Baran, assisted by Girman. It was Rutgers’ first Big Ten Tournament win since 2021.
“I thought (Girman) was going to finish and I was like I might as well just in case,” Baran said. “(Girman) goes around the goalie and I was like alright I got this.”
The Knights will now play the winner of Ohio State versus USC on Thursday at 3 p.m. in St. Louis, Missouri. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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