Rutgers University
Pittsburgh
Rutgers Defeats Pitt, 6-2
Oct 02 | Women's Soccer
PITTSBURGH, PA - The Scarlet Knights exploded for five second-half goals as the Rutgers women's soccer team (4-7-1, 1-4 BIG EAST) defeated Pittsburgh (2-7-2, 1-3-1 BIG EAST) 6-2 Oct. 2 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Junior Kim Mineo (Glen Rock, NJ) got the scoring started in the 37th minute, knocking in a rebound off the post. The Panthers answered eight minutes later, heading in a free kick, evening the match 60 seconds before halftime.
Freshman Nina Montero (Vineland, NJ) got things started for the Scarlet Knights in the second half, one-timing a shot off a corner kick to score her first career goal in the 60th minute. Less than 90 seconds later, junior Domenique Esposito (Rivervale, NJ) connected on Kristen Edmond's (Metuchen.
NJ) pass to push RU ahead 3-1.
Sophomore Amanda Allessio (Langhorne, PA) pushed the RU lead to three goals when she gathered a loose ball and let a shot fly from the top of the box in the 72nd minute. Then, less than two minutes later, Edmonds was fouled in the box, and senior Zoe Avner (Paris, France) stepped up and converted the penalty kick, her second such goal of the season, for a commanding 5-1 lead.
Pitt got its second goal of the afternoon, stringing together two passes in the midfield to create a score with three minutes remaining in the match.
But, that would not end the scoring, as Edmonds found fellow freshman Courtney Roarty (Edison, NJ) for the Scarlet Knights' sixth score with just
12 seconds to play in the match.
Redshirt junior Nora Crawford (McLean, VA) made two saves for the Scarlet Knights in goal (4-7-1). Junior Dana Geiser (East Brunswick, NJ) saw her first action of the season, making one save in the match's final 12 minutes.
'I'm really happy for the girls,' said sixth-year Rutgers head coach Glenn Crooks. 'This was the fourth consecutive match that we played very good soccer. The attack has been creating chances, but whether it was the opponents' keepers making great saves or us just not finishing, we weren't getting rewarded for our good play until today. I'm just very happy for the team. Through this whole stretch we have played very well and we've created more opportunities than our opponent in almost every match. The team never lost its winning attitude. We really had to win this match today, and it was nice to see that the goals just kept on coming.'
RU will host the 2004 NCAA champion, Notre Dame, Friday, Oct. 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Rutgers 6, Pittsburgh 2
Women's Soccer BIG EAST Conference Cross-Divisional Match Sunday, Oct. 2; Pittsburgh, PA
First Second Total
Rutgers 1 5 6
Pittsburgh 1 1 2
Shots: RU 18, UP 7. Saves: RU 3 (Nora Crawford 2, Dana Geiser 1), UP 9 (Jamie Pelusi 8, Lailah Issac 1). Fouls: RU 6, UP 12. Corner Kicks: RU 6, UP 1. Offsides: RU 2, UP 1. Cards: RU 0, UP 0.
Team Time Goal Assist
RU 36:16 Kim Mineo (2)
UP 44:00 Corina Sebesta Carli Brill
RU 59:31 Nina Montero (1)
RU 60:54 Domenique Esposito (4) Kristen Edmonds (4)
RU 71:19 Amanda Allessio (1)
RU 72:53 Zoe Avner (2)
UP 87:00 Erin McFarling Erin Hills, Brill
RU 89:18 Courtney Roarty (3) Edmonds (5)
