Rutgers University
Connecticut
Rutgers Advances to BIG EAST Semifinals with Win Over UConn
Oct 29 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's soccer team (14-2-3) advanced to the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championships with a win over the University of Connecticut (10-7-3) in penalty kicks on Saturday night at Yurcak Field.
Following a UConn miss with the score tied 5-5, Courtney Roarty (Edison, N.J.) nailed in the sixth penalty kick for the Scarlet Knights to lift the team to the win.
Following the second overtime, the game was sent into a shootout with UConn to take the first kick. Niki Cross stepped the line and nailed it into the back for the net for the Huskies, followed by a goal from Gina DeMaio (Parsippany, N.J.) for Rutgers. Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) came up with a save on the second UConn attempt from Annie Yi, but was then stopped by UConn goalie Stephanie Labbe on her own kick, leaving the score tied, 1-1.
Rutgers took a 3-2 lead after another Guthrie save and a make from Jenifer Anzivino (Middletown, N.J.). A make from UConn's Brittany Taylor and a miss just wide right from the Scarlet Knights' Leia Rispoli (Kendall Park, N.J.) left the score, 2-2. Both Schnur made her attempt, giving UConn a 3-2 lead and a must-make situation for the Scarlet Knights. Freshman Becky Wise (West Springfield, Mass.) nailed the shot past Labbe to level the score, 3-3.
Following another Guthrie save and a miss just high of the goal by Alicia Hall (Port Republic, N.J.), Brittany Tegeler nailed it past Guthrie to give the Huskies the 4-3 advantage. Kim Brandao (Rahway, N.J.) then stepped up for the Scarlet Knights and made the score 4-4 with shot past Labbe.
The Huskies took a 5-4 lead when Labbe nailed a shot past Guthrie, but Kristie Lang (East Brunswick, N.J.) kept the shootout going with a make for the Scarlet Knights.
On the next UConn attempt, Courtney Sands missed just right of the goal, giving Roarty the chance to end the game as she nailed it past Labbe.
"I'm ecstatic for the girls," Crooks said. "To see Erin miss a penalty kick and then get back in goal and make saves tells you a lot about her. Becky Wise who has been a reserve for us this year came out and made a huge penalty kick that kept us alive after playing huge minute for us at back. Nina Montero (Vineland, N.J.) played the first half with an 102-degree temperature and did everything she could and was fantastic. It was a great performance for the team and I'm really proud of how they played."
The shutout was the 14th on the year for the Scarlet Knights, as they extended the school-record for shutouts in a season, previously 11, that was set during the 1996 campaign.
"I thought it was important with [Karla Schacher] going down [in the first half], we needed to keep fighting," said head coach Glenn Crooks. "Everyone knows the way Karla plays, she would have been out there playing on a dislocated ankle if the trainers told her that she could. When she was being taken off the field she told us to 'get it done' and I think that's the mentality we had."
In the first half, the Scarlet Knights were able to get four good looks at the goal, but couldn't find the back of the net. With 36:37 remaining in the half, DeMaio nailed a free kick that Labbe got a hand on and knocked over the goal.
At the 32:20 mark, the Huskies' Tegeler had the ball at the top of the box, looking for a scoring opportunity, but Meghan Ryan (Crofton, Md.) was able to steal the ball and clear it, ending the scoring opportunity.
Karla Schacher (Tofield, Alberta) nearly scored when DeMaio nailed a free kick into traffic at the 24:50 mark. Schacher came up with it, headed it towards the goal, but Labbe came up with the save. Later in the half, with 14:05 left, Schacher went down on the sideline and left the game with a dislocated ankle.
The Huskies saw an opportunity to score at the 12:02 mark, but Ryan made the defensive save for the Scarlet Knights on a Connecticut lead, leaving the game in a scoreless tie at the half.
Rutgers' defense continued to step up in the second half as UConn outshot the Scarlet Knights, 6-2 in the period. With 31:40 left in the game, Brandao caught Tegeler on a breakaway, stole the ball and cleared it to prevent the Husky goal.
On the next Rutgers possession, Kristen Edmonds (Metuchen, N.J.) nailed a cross from the right sideline looking for Anzivino in the box. Before Anzivino could get a foot on it, however, Labbe dove on the ball ending the Scarlet Knights' attack.
Brandao came up with another big defensive play with 13:52 left in the game, stealing the ball on the left side of the penalty box and clearing it to the midfield for the Scarlet Knights.
Jaime Komar (Matawan, N.J.) came up with another defensive stop at the 9:56 mark on a corner. UConn's Schnur nailed the corner kick and it was deflected to the opposite side of the penalty box where Sarah Macisaac had an open look at the goal. Komar flew in from the goal box and blocked the shot to end the Huskies' scoring opportunity.
In overtime, Connecticut outshot the Scarlet Knights, 5-1, as Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) came up with one of her three saves in the first overtime period.
Rutgers will face the winner of the match between No. 8 West Virginia and Louisville on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:00 p.m. at Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn.
Rutgers 0, UConn 0
(Rutgers wins on penalty kicks)
Women's Soccer
Saturday, October 28, 2006; Yurcak Field; Piscataway, N.J.
1st 2nd 1OT 2OT Final
UConn 0 0 0 0 0
Rutgers 0 0 0 0 0
Shots 1st 2nd 1OT 2OT Final
UConn 4 6 4 1 15
Rutgers 4 2 1 0 7
Saves 1st 2nd 1OT 2OT Final
UConn 2 1 1 0 4
Rutgers 2 2 0 0 4
Corner Kicks 1st 2nd 1OT 2OT Final
UConn 1 1 1 1 4
Rutgers 4 4 0 0 8
Fouls 1st 2nd 1OT 2OT Final
UConn 6 3 3 1 13
Rutgers 7 7 2 0 16
Offsides: RU 3, UConn 0 Cards: YC-Niki Cross (UConn) 46:49
Penalty Kicks
UConn -Niki Cross (good)
RU - Gina DeMaio (good)
UConn - Annie Yi (Guthrie save)
RU - Guthrie (Labbe save)
UConn - Karyn Riviere (Guthrie save)
RU - Jenifer Anzivino (good)
UConn - Brittany Taylor (good)
RU - Leia Rispoli (missed wide right)
UConn - Meghan Schnur (good)
RU - Becky Wise (good)
UConn - Elizabeth Eng (Guthrie save)
RU - Alicia Hall (missed high)
UConn - Brittany Tegeler (good)
RU - Kim Brandao (good)
UConn - Stephanie Labbe (good)
RU - Kristie Lang (good)
UConn - Courtney Sands (missed wide right)
RU - Courtney Roarty (good)
