RU Women's Soccer Receives NCAA Bid
Nov 10 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers women’s soccer team (10-6-4, 3-2-1 BIG EAST) has received an at-large bid for the 2003 NCAA Tournament, and will take on Maryland (11-8-1) Friday, Nov. 14, at 5:00 p.m. in the first round at University Park, PA.
Rutgers will be making its third-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and second trip in a three-year span. In 1987, the Scarlet Knights fell to Connecticut 1-0 in the first round. Rutgers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2001 NCAA Tournament, defeating Boston University 4-1 and No. 22 Princeton 1-0 before losing 2-1 at eventual national runner-up North Carolina.
“We’re thrilled to be making our second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last three years, and to be making our third trip in the program’s history,” fourth-year Rutgers head coach Glenn Crooks said. “After what happened last year (Rutgers did not receive an at-large bid in 2002), we pledged to never let that happen again. Even though we weren’t totally in control of our own fate today (by earning an automatic bid), we felt like we had done enough to qualify, and that was proven to be true. We’ve bounced back and forth in the regional rankings with Maryland all year. They’re a veteran team, and are probably more experienced than we are just because of the number of first-year players we have had contributing for us this year. But, we have quite a few players who were with us in 2001 for the NCAA Tournament and they have that experience, so we have a nice blend.”
Rutgers is 10-6-4 overall and 3-2-1 in the BIG EAST Conference’s Mid-Atlantic Division following a 2-1 loss at No. 22 Boston College in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals Nov. 2. Junior All-American Carli Lloyd (Delran, NJ) leads the Scarlet Knights with 24 points (11 G, 2 A). Sophomore Kelly Evans (Saddle Brook, NJ) is second with 13 points (6 G, 1 A), followed by redshirt sophomore Christine Wentzler (Northvale, NJ) with four (1 G, 2 A). Freshman Robyn Jones (Titusville, NJ) has posted a 0.82 goals-against average and a .742 save percentage for RU in goal.
Maryland is 11-8-1 overall and posted a 2-5 record in Atlantic Coast Conference play this season. The Terrapins lost 1-0 to No. 19 Florida State in the ACC Tournament semifinals Nov. 7. Kimmy Francis leads Maryland with 24 points (9 G, 6 A). Kristen Barnhill has posted a 1.24 goals-against average and a .778 save percentage in goal for the Terrapins this season.
Rutgers is 1-4 (.200) all time against Maryland, including a 1-0 mark when playing at a neutral site. The last time the two teams met was Sept. 6, 2002, a 5-2 Terrapin victory at RU’s Yurcak Field.
Rutgers is ranked sixth by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and ninth by Soccerbuzz in the Mid-Atlantic Region this week (Nov. 10). Maryland was rated fifth by both groups in the same region.
The winner of the Rutgers-Maryland match will face either No. 6 Penn State (16-2-3) or Navy (17-4-1) in the NCAA Tournament’s second round Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2:00 p.m.
