Rutgers
Temple
Rutgers Explodes for 6-0 Victory against Temple
Aug 26 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Rutgers (1-0) exploded for six goals, blowing past Temple (0-1) 6-0 in both teams’ season opener Aug. 26 at Yurcak Field.
RU, a team that tallied a total of just 22 goals in 20 matches last season, scored six goals for the first time since Oct. 18, 2002, a 6-5 double-overtime victory against visiting Miami. The last time the Scarlet Knights were as prolific in a regulation 90-minute match was Oct. 28, 1998, a 7-1 home win against St. Bonaventure.
Leading the way for the Scarlet Knights was junior Domenique Esposito (Rivervale, NJ), who scored two goals and added a late assist. Freshman Kristen Edmonds (Metuchen, NJ) was outstanding in her collegiate debut, registering four points (1 g, 2 a), while senior Zoe Avner (Paris, France) notched a goal and an assist.
“It was really nice to see production like that,” said sixth-year Rutgers head coach Glenn Crooks. “It is certainly one of the things we have focused on, because the last two years our output has been limited.
“Our finishing was tremendous. We had four shots and three goals in the first half. And, they were good goals tonight. But, the team has a lot of things to work on. They know that they can do better. We have a group of young ladies who understand that they have to get better each day.”
Edmonds got Rutgers on the board almost immediately, causing a turnover 30 yards in front of the Temple goal, then breaking away and beating the keeper 1 v. 1 in the eighth minute. Just four minutes later, Avner sent a perfect ball up the gut of the Owl defense, allowing Edmonds to run on to it and sprint to the penalty area. Temple’s Tiffany Kasunich did well to stop Edmond’s first shot, and when the former Metuchen standout went after her own rebound, she was dragged down in the box by an Owl defender. Avner stepped up and drilled the penalty kick, scoring her first career goal to give Rutgers a 2-0 edge in the 12th minute.
An Edmonds cross found Esposito in the center of the six-yard box for the third goal (26:25), and another Edmonds cross to junior Kim Mineo (Glen Rock, NJ) made the score 4-0 in the 62nd minute. Eleven minutes later, Leia Rispoli’s (Kendall Park, NJ) passed back to Esposito, who was waiting 25 yards out to the left of the box. She floated a perfect ball over Kasunich’s head for her second goal of the night. Then, in the final minute of play, Avner launched a corner kick past the far post, and Esposito redirected it to freshman Stephanie MacCormack (Westwood, NJ). MacCormack punched the ball in for her first collegiate points.
Redshirt junior Nora Crawford (McLean, VA) registered the shutout victory in goal (1-0), but was never tested, thanks to a Rutgers defense that did not allow a single shot by Temple.
With the win, Rutgers extended its streak to three consecutive victories in season openers at Yurcak Field, and improved its overall opening-match record to 13-5-4 (.682).
Rutgers will finish the weekend with a home contest against Fairleigh Dickinson Sunday, Aug. 28, at 7:00 p.m. The match will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Patriot cable systems. Please check your local listings for air times and dates.
Rutgers 6, Temple 0
Women’s Soccer Non-Conference Match
Friday, Aug. 26; Yurcak Field; Piscataway, NJ
Temple 0 0 0
Rutgers 3 3 6
Shots: TU 0, RU 11. Saves: TU 8 (Tiffany Kasunich 0, Team 1), RU 0 (Nora Crawford 0). Fouls: TU 9, RU 6. Corner Kicks: TU 0, RU 7. Offsides: TU 2, RU 10. Cards: TU 0, RU 0.
Time Team Goal Assist
7:25 RU Kristen Edmonds (1)
11:47 RU Zoe Avner (1)
26:25 RU Domenique Esposito (1) Edmonds (1)
61:45 RU Kim Mineo Edmonds (2)
72:43 RU Esposito (2) Leia Rispoli (1)
89:13 RU Stephanie MacCormack (1) Avner, (1), Esposito (1)
