The Scarlet Knights tied a record set in 1992 by allowing just 11 goals through 22 games. RU also broke the record for lowest goals against average with a 0.48 mark (in 2006, the squad allowed .50 goals per game). 

 

“Today was an excellent college soccer match,” said Rutgers head coach Glenn Crooks. “It was a pretty typical high-level game, where they got the opportunity and finished and we were not able to.”

 

The South Carolina goal came in the 36^th minute as Christine Watts marched down the field for the Gamecocks, hitting Maria Petroni, who took the ball into the box. She crossed it to Brook Jacobs, who dribbled six yards in for a one-on-one opportunity with senior goalkeeper Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.). Jacobs hit the lower left corner of the net for the score – her third-straight in NCAA Tournament games. The score was just the 10^th tally Guthrie allowed all season.

 

The Scarlet Knights - in their all-red kits - had multiple opportunities to score in the second half. Their best chance came with just 25 seconds left on a corner kick. Junior Kelsey Dumont (Wrightstown, Pa.) sent the ball into Guthrie, who had come all the way up the field. Guthrie played a great ball to junior converted forward Rheanne Sleiman (North Vancouver, Canada),who headed it towards the net, but USC goalkeeper Mollie Patton made an athletic grab to save the goal and the game.

 

With 18 minutes remaining, Sleiman headed the ball off a set piece towards the net, but the ball went just left of the net. Sophomore Julie Lancos (Belford, N.J.) blasted a ball on a free kick from 25 yards out, but the USC defender was there for the block in the 65th minute. Freshman Caitlin Conway (Brick, N.J.) grabbed the rebound, heading the ball towards the net, but the Scarlet Knights were called for a foul.

 

In the 58th minute, Guthrie stopped a USC chance, as Kim Miller had a free kick from 25 yards out. The ball sailed to the left of the goal, but the netminder was right there for the save – her first of the day. Just prior in the 48^th minute, Karla Schacher (Tofield, Alberta) corralled a pass from freshman Maura McLaughlin (West Windsor, N.J.) for an open look at the net, but the redshirt junior sent it high.

 

South Carolina’s first major opportunity came in the 16^th minute, when Sam Diaz-Matosas bent a shot from just 12 yards to the left of the net. The ball hit the post and bounced around Guthrie, but redshirt sophomore Allie Hambleton (Scotch Plains, N.J.) booted it out of the box. The Gamecocks received a corner kick, but were unable to capitalize.

Schacher had the first shot of the game in the fifth minute, as she was hit by Stefanee Pace (Kearny, N.J.) on a give-and-go inside the box. Schacher took a hard shot, but it was right at Patton, who was there to dive on top of it. Schacher had another opportunity on a rocket from 12 yards out three minutes later, but Patton dove to make the stop.

 

Overall, USC outshot RU, 11-9. Guthrie had five saves on the day, doing her best work in the final minutes of the second half, as the RU's back line was pressing for the equalizer.

 

Rutgers moves to 5-4-3 all-time under Coach Crooks in the NCAA Tournament. Seniors Jen Anzivino (Middletown, N.J.), Guthrie, Kristie Lang (East Brunswick, N.J.) and Becky Wise (West Springfield, Mass.) all played in their last game as a Scarlet Knight. Injured seniors Gina DeMaio (Parsippany Hills, N.J.) and Caycie Gusman (Honolulu, Hawaii) – both integral members of the squad despite standing on the sideline – have the option to redshirt for a fifth season.

 

“I want to recognize the four seniors that played this match today: Jen Anzivino, Erin Guthrie, Kristie Lang and Becky Wise,” said Crooks. During their four-year tenure at this university, it is the most successful four-year run in the history of the program – and it is not even close. I am so proud of them and I’m very sorry it ended for them today.”