PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 09, 2009) – The No. 10/12 Rutgers women’s soccer team battled for 90 minutes, but fell short, 1-0, against the No. 8/9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Yurcak Field Friday night. Senior goalkeeper Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) made six saves on the night, but it wasn’t enough as Notre Dame’s Lauren Fowlkes found the net in the 83rd minute of the match. RU falls to 9-2-3 overall, 3-1-2 in the BIG EAST. The Irish maintain a 9-3-1 overall record with a 5-0-1 mark in conference play.
“This was definitely a hard fought game,” said head coach Glenn Crooks. “We have played with Notre Dame since I got here, but I think we all felt that this was the time. But that is soccer. They finished when they had an opportunity, and we didn’t. I would give us an edge on the overall run of play. They have been a top-five team since I have been here, and they are used to responding in big moments. I think this shows our team that they can play against anyone.”
With just over six minutes to play, UND’s Jazmin Hall played the ball in from the left of the box. Fowlkes ran underneath the ball, getting a foot on it to place it in the top right corner of the net for the score. Although the Scarlet Knights would not let up – taking three of their 12 shots after the score – the squad could not find the equalizer.
With three minutes left to play, RU tallied back-to-back shots after a foul on UND. Senior captain Jen Anzivino (Middletown, N.J.), who moved to the front line during the last six minutes of play, headed the ball towards the Notre Dame goal. A defender blocked it, but junior Karla Schacher (Tofield, Alberta) was there for the rebound. She sent it towards the net, but Irish goalkeeper Nikki Weiss made the save – one of six on the night.
In the 82nd minute, the Scarlet Knights drew a penalty just above the box. Sophomore Julie Lancos (Belford, N.J.) sailed a ball towards the Notre Dame goalkeeper, but Weiss made the save.
Notre Dame’s Courtney Barg sent a rocket from just outside the box in the 54th minute, but Guthriewas there to save it.
RU had back-to-back-to-back corner kicks the 29th minute, but failed to capitalize. On the last piece, Lancos booted the ball to Anzivino, who headed it towards the goal, but the UND keeper was there for the save.
Rutgers outshot Notre Dame 12-9, earning four corner kicks to the Irish’s two. Guthrie made five saves on the night.
Rutgers returns to Yurcak Field Sunday, Oct. 11 for a BIG EAST National Division match-up against DePaul. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The game will be shown through Knightvision Broadband.
Game Notes
*Caitlin Conway earned the second nod of her career at midfield. The freshman has not started since the first game of the season against UMBC.
*Rutgers remains in second place of the BIG EAST National Division. The Scarlet Knights are one point ahead of Georgetown with 11 in 2009 and five behind the Irish.
*This is the second loss of the season – first in the BIG EAST – for RU. The Scarlet Knights have not dropped a game since Sept. 11 when then-No. 21 San Diego edged the squad, 2-1. The only two losses Rutgers has suffered have come against ranked opponents.
*Notre Dame maintains a NCAA Division I record 58-game unbeaten streak in the BIG EAST, dating back to Oct. 2, 2005. All-time, the Irish are 147-7-5 against BIG EAST opponents. RU falls to 1-17-2 all-time against UND.
*This is the first time Rutgers has been held scoreless in back-to-back games since the NCAA Tournament run last season. The Scarlet Knights knotted Oklahoma State, 0-0, advancing on PKs, and then lost to Stanford, 1-0, in the Sweet Sixteen.
