Rutgers Earns Highest-Ever National Ranking
Nov 07 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's soccer team (15-3-3) earned the 12th spot in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas national poll, the team's highest ranking in school history. Rutgers will play host to Hartford University in the first round of the NCAA Championships on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Yurcak Field. The winner of the game will play in second round on Sunday, Nov. 12.
The Scarlet Knights also moved up in the Soccerbuzz rankings, holding the 13th slot this week after being ranked 17th in the previous poll. This week's appearance matches the program's best ranking set during the 2001 campaign. Somis Sports also ranked Rutgers 13th, while SoccerAmerica ranked the Scarlet Knights 21st this week.
Rutgers also earned bids to the NCAA Championships in 1987, 2001 and 2003. During the 2001 season, Rutgers advanced to its first-ever Sweet Sixteen. In the first round, the Scarlet Knights posted their first-ever win in the NCAA Championships, a 4-1 victory over Boston College. Rutgers then posted a 1-0 win over then-22nd ranked Princeton to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Rutgers was eliminated from the tournament in a 2-1 loss to the 2001 defending champions North Carolina.
Last weekend, the Scarlet Knights finished second in the BIG EAST Championships, falling to top-ranked Notre Dame in the final, 4-2. The appearance in the conference final was the first in school history for Rutgers. Gina DeMaio (Parsippany, N.J.) and Kim Mineo (Glen Rock, N.J.) scored goals for the Scarlet Knights, while Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) had five saves in goal for Rutgers. In the semifinals of the conference tournament, the Scarlet Knights posted a 3-2 comeback win over No. 8 West Virginia as Courtney Roarty (Edison, N.J.) scored two goals and Alicia Hall (Port Republic, N.J.) netted her eighth goal of the season.
Posting its 15th win over the season over the Mountaineers on Nov. 3, Rutgers broke the school record for wins in a season, 14, set by the 1996 and 2001 squads. On Oct. 20, in a 2-0 shutout against Cincinnati, the Scarlet Knights recorded their 12th shutout of the season, breaking the previous mark, 11, set by the 1991 team. The 1-0 victory over Louisville
(Oct. 22) marked the eighth BIG EAST win for Rutgers, the first time in program history the team has won eight conference matches.
The match-up with Hartford will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will precede the 5:00 p.m. contest between Boston University and Boston College. The winners will meet on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2:00 p.m., at Yurcak Field.
