Box Score

By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The first hint Brianne Reed had that something special was about to unfold for the Rutgers women's soccer team today was during pre-game warmups.

It wasn't necessarily anything that anyone said or did. It was more, as the senior defender explained afterward, "just a really good vibe."

"We weren't nervous. We were excited but we weren't nervous and we didn't let any of that get to us," said Reed. "You could sense that we knew exactly what we had to do."

Ninety minutes later, the No. 9-ranked Scarlet Knights, in one of their most impressive performances of the season, had a dominant 4-0 victory over Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 at Yurcak Field, earning the program's first trip to the Elite Eight.

Rutgers (19-3-2) will next play No. 1-ranked Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., on either Friday or Saturday with a berth to the College Cup at stake. The Cavaliers advanced with a 2-0 victory over USC Sunday.

"Man, were they good today," head coach Mike O'Neill said of his team. "They were good."

Two first-half goals in a three-minute span - both off headers - were all the scoring and insurance the Scarlet Knights would need in extending already established school records for victories and shutouts (18), with this team having yet to allow a goal in three NCAA Tournament games.

"I can't even begin to explain what this means to reach the Elite Eight," said Reed, a First Team All-Big Ten selection. "As this tournament has progressed we keep playing better and better. I have huge hopes for what's left."

Junior Madison Tiernan jumpstarted the Scarlet Knights in the 29^th minute, heading a corner kick from freshman Kenie Wright that deflected off the forehead of defender Annie Wickett - who was standing on the goal line - into the upper right corner of the net. It was Tiernan's second goal of the season.

"It was perfect. Like on a platter," said Tiernan of the corner kick. "It was almost like it was in slow motion. I saw it and put it in the back of the net."

It quickly became 2-0 in the 32^nd minute on a goal triggered by Reed's flip throw-in that freshman Jennifer Andresen was able to gather on the left side of box. She chipped a cross that was headed by freshman Katelyn Walters into the near side of the net.

If that wasn't insurmountable enough for the visiting Huskies (19-4), Rutgers made it 3-0 in the 50^th minute when Cassie Inacio scored from the left of the 18 off a feed from Colby Ciarrocca, who collected her own rebound near the net and sent it back out to her open teammate.

Rutgers then matched its season-high for goals in a game on Ciarrocca's breakaway in the 90^th minute.

"It felt good on the field," said Inacio. "It felt like we were moving the ball well. We were able to finish on our opportunities and our back line and our defensive players are strong. It felt good to have early momentum."

Goalkeeper Casey Murphy had to work for her school-record 18^th shutout by recording seven saves, including a key early one in what was still a scoreless game.

"They're so humble and they're so hungry," said O'Neill. "I've seen Casey make saves on the way to class."

Once the scoring started, No. 18-ranked Connecticut - a team Rutgers defeated on Sept. 13 - faced a daunting climb, for two reasons. One is that the Scarlet Knights are 13-0-1 this season. The other, as O'Neill put it, is "when we're up we're tough (to beat)."

In becoming the first Rutgers team to reach the Elite Eight since women's basketball in 2008, the Scarlet Knights are moving on to face a familiar foe - and a recent nemesis.

Virginia, last year's national runner-up, has defeated Rutgers each of the past three seasons, knocking the Scarlet Knights out of the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and last year.

"The whole season we haven't put much emphasis on who we're playing," said Inacio. "We've focused on us and our habits and how we play and working hard. Whoever we play it doesn't matter. We're going to give it our best effort and play the way we know we can play."

Reed has been part of those three straight losses to the Cavaliers but says this year "feels different."

"I don't think we're intimidated," she said. "I've never been so excited to go back to Virginia. I've been there all four years. Unfortunately we've had losses the first three years. But I've never felt this good going in to play them."

Game Notes

• The win puts the Scarlet Knights in their first NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal. RU will play No. 1 Virginia Friday in Charlottesville, Va., with the start time to be announced. The winner will advance to the 2015 NCAA Women's College Cup in Cary, N.C. from Dec. 4-6.
• Rutgers improved to 10-7-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches and 6-0-2 all-time in home NCAA Tourney contests.
• The 19 wins for the Scarlet Knights this season extends the program record.
• RU recorded its 18th clean sheet of the year, setting a new program record for shutouts in a season.
• The Scarlet Knights close the 2015 season 13-0-1 at Yurcak Field, a new record for home wins in a season. Rutgers joins the 1987 (8-0) and 1984 (5-0) teams as the only others to finish the home season unbeaten.
• In its last 36 contests at Yurcak Field, Rutgers is 33-2-1.
• When taking a lead into halftime this season, Rutgers is 12-0-0. Since 2008, RU has a 51-2-2 mark when leading teams at the half.
• Through 24 matches 11 different Scarlet Knights have scored game-winning goals, the most since nine players notched game-winners in 2009.
• RU scored season-high four goals for the second time this season.
• Casey Murphy lowered RU's goals-against average to 0.33 this season. RU has allowed just eight goals in 24 matches.
• Murphy finished the day one shy of her career-high in saves with seven.
• Madison Tiernan's goal was her first game-winner and second overall this season. The assist on the play was credited to Kenie Wright, her second of the year.
• Katelyn Walters headed in her second goal of the season in the 32^nd Assisting on the play was Jennifer Andresen for her fourth helper of the year.
• Colby Ciarrocca posted a season-high three points with her team-leading ninth goal of the year and her fourth assist of the season.
• Cassie Inacio notched her fifth goal of the season Sunday. Her goal and points (12) tallies are second on the team.
• Murphy recorded her 18th shutout of the season.
• Hayley Katkowskistarted her 88th consecutive game for Rutgers since her career began in 2012. She is second on Rutgers' all-time list for starts in a career.
• Erica Skroskiplayed the full time for the 21st time this season. Brianne Reed and Katkowski logged the full time for the 18th time.

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