Rutgers University
Bucknell
Rutgers Erases Early Deficit to Defeat Bucknell 4-1
Aug 31 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Junior Gina DeMaio (Parsipanny, N.J.) tallied a career-high three assists to lead Rutgers (3-0) to a 4-1 comeback win over Bucknell (2-1-2), Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field. Junior Caycie Gusman (Honolulu, Hawaii) was the primary recipient for DeMaio, recording a career-high two goals. With the win, head coach Glenn Crooks picked up his 90th career victory at Rutgers.
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Glenn Crooks (Tom Ciszek/NJSportsPHoto) |
Bucknell started the scoring on a corner kick in the 17th minute, when Casey Crowley received the ball and sent it into the box for Nicole Marotta, who kicked it in for the goal. But Rutgers regrouped, scoring three consecutive goals to take control of the game. In the 22nd minute, DeMaio split two defenders with a pass from the top of the box to a cutting Alicia Hall (Port Republic, N.J.), who sent it past Bucknell goalie Kathryn Sutton.
In the 37th minute, DeMaio and Gusman hooked up for the first time on a corner, as Gusman was able to head DeMaio's kick into the goal. Four minutes later, on a free kick from the left side of the box, Gusman again headed in DeMaio's pass for the 3-1 lead.
In the second half, Kristen Edmonds (Metuchen, N.J.) tallied her first goal of the season in the 60th minute. Senior Nina Montero (Vineland, N.J.) kicked the ball into the box for Edmonds, whose shot was stopped by Sutton. But the ball rebounded to Edmonds, who sent it past the Bucknell keeper for the score and the 4-1 advantage.
"Everybody played a major role in this win," said Crooks. "The backs recovered from a shaky start and played very well. The back line is still a work in progress, but they are getting better all the time, and it showed tonight. I felt that we really played as a team today, everyone working together and playing together."
Rutgers held a 19-9 advantage in shots and a 9-3 advantage in shots-on-goal. Junior goalie Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) recorded two saves in approximately 83 minutes of action, before being replaced by freshman Casey Rupon (Whitehouse Station, N.J.).
Rutgers returns to the pitch on Friday, Sept. 5, to take on No. 9 Penn State at Yurcak Field at 7:00 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
Rutgers has started the 2008 campaign 3-0, marking the third consecutive year the team won its first three matches.
Rutgers scored a season-high four goals, marking its highest offensive output since defeating Fairleigh Dickinson 5-0 on Sept. 23, 2007.
Rutgers matched its season-high for goals in a half with three first-half goals against the Bison. The Scarlet Knights previously achieved the feat in the second half against George Washington on Aug. 23.
Rutgers scored in each half for the first time in 2008. Against GW on Aug. 23, the team tallied three second-half goals, and against Lehigh on Aug. 29, RU scored twice in the first half.
Junior Gina DeMaio (Parsippany, N.J.) recorded a career-high three assists. Her previous high was two, set against Hartford on Nov. 10, 2006, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
DeMaio now has 14 assists for her career, tying four players for eighth-place on Rutgers all-time career-assists list.
DeMaio finished with three shots against the Bison, giving her 160 for her career, four away from tying Keri Lages (164) for sixth place on RU's all-time career-shots list.
Junior Caycie Gusman (Honolulu, Hawaii) scored a career-high two goals.
With her two scores, Gusman has a career-high four goals on the season. Her previous high was two, set in 2006 and 2007.
Senior Kristen Edmonds (Metuchen, N.J.) scored her first goal of 2008, to go along with her three assists.
