Rutgers
Saint Joseph's
Rutgers Suffers First Loss of Season
Sep 04 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ - The Rutgers women's soccer team(2-1) suffered its first loss of the season, losing to Saint Joseph's (2-1) 2-1 Sept. 4 at Yurcak Field.
The Scarlet Knights had several excellent chances in the first half, including a Kristen Edmonds (Metuchen, NJ) strike that sailed just wide of the left post, and a Danae Risoli (Hillsborough, NJ) shot from point-blank range that was snuffed out by Saint Joseph's keeper Nicole DiEnna. The Hawks' only shot of the half resulted in the game's first score, when Ashley Bugnar let loose a rocket from the outer right corner of the box, tucking the ball inside the left post in the 40th minute.
On their second shot of the match, the Hawks again proved themselves efficient, as Saint Joseph's staked itself to a two-goal lead less than five minutes into the second half. Jess Daugherty took a free kick 35 yards out, and sent the ball to Megan Schutt on the left post. Schutt threaded the ball to Lauren Stevis in the middle of the box, and she drilled it home for the 2-0 advantage.
The Scarlet Knights fought back in the 58th minute, as freshman Kristen Edmonds (Metuchen, NJ) broke free in SJU's defensive third, then looped the ball over the lone defender's head, retrieved the bouncing ball and blasted a shot from the top of the box. That goal cut the deficit to one, but RU was unable to get the equalizer in the final minutes.
After posting shutouts in the first two matches, redshirt junior Nora Crawford (McLean, VA) did not make a save in goal (2-1), as the Hawks scored on both of their shots during the match.
'I thought that we played very well at times,' said sixth-year Rutgers head coach Glenn Crooks. 'On the first goal, we didn't pressure the shooter. In that area of the field, that's not how we defend. On the second goal, we had poor marking on a set piece, and that's something that we have to improve upon. We always talk about creating more chances than our opponent, and hopefully you finish more. Obviously, we didn't do that tonight. I don't think we were as mentally sharp tonight as we were the first two matches this season.'
After starting the season with three consecutive home matches, Rutgers will travel to College Park, MD, for its first road matches of the year. The Scarlet Knights will compete at the Maryland/adidas Classic, facing UCSB Thursday, Sept. 8, at 5:00 p.m. and the host Terps Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2:30 p.m.
Rutgers 1, Saint Joseph's 2
Women's Soccer Non-Conference Match
Sunday, Sept. 4; Yurcak Field; Piscataway, NJ
Saint Joseph's 1 1 2
Rutgers 0 1 1
Shots: SUU 2, RU 6. Saves: SJU 3 (Nicole DiEnna 3), RU 0 (Nora Crawford 0). Fouls: SJU 12, RU 6. Corner Kicks: SJU 1, RU 1. Offsides: SJU 0, RU 0. Cards: SJU 0, RU 0.
Team Time Goal Assist
SJU 39:44 Ashley Bugnar
SJU 50:18 Lauren Stevis Megan Schutt
RU 57:34 Kristen Edmonds (4)
