Rutgers
No. 21 San Diego
No. 17/11 Rutgers Falls To No. 21 San Diego
Sep 12 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 17/11 Rutgers women's soccer team (4-1-1) dropped their first contest of the season, 2-1, to No. 21 San Diego (4-2-1) Friday night in Tucson, Ariz. at the Marriott University Park Tournament. Junior Ashley Jones (Feasterville, Pa.) scored her second goal in two games, but it wasn't enough as the Toreros scored back-to-back goals late in the game for the win.
"After we missed some opportunities at the start of the second half, we started defending, rather than attacking," said head coach Glenn Crooks. "We were on our heels for a short period of time, and they took advantage of the opportunity."
In the 48th minute, Jones beat two defenders with her speed to blast a shot past the USD netminder. Redshirt freshman Stefanee Pace (Kearny, N.J.) notched her first career assist on the play. Pace stands tied with senior Caycie Gusman (Honolulu, Hawaii) atop the Scarlet Knights with five points.
RU had two solid chances after the goal to add to their lead, but San Diego keeper Courtney Parsons stopped both. In the 54th minute, redshirt freshman April Price (Mechanicsville, Va.) had an opportunity, but was blocked by the SDU netminder. Seven minutes later, senior captain Gina DeMaio (Parsippany, N.J.) tallied a shot on goal with a breakaway opportunity, but Parsons was there to corral it once again. Junior Karla Schacher (Tofield, Alberta) also had a breakaway opportunity at the beginning of the second stanza, but could not connect for the goal.
San Diego midfielder Natalie Vinti scored in the 76th minute of the game to tie the Scarlet Knights. Sierra Ferreira was credited with the assist on the play. In the next minute, another San Diego midfielder - sophomore Elissa Magracia - sent a pass from Hallie Huston into the net for the game-winning score.
RU outshot San Diego, 12-10 on the night. Price took five shots, while DeMaio notched four and Schacher tallied another two, including one on goal.
Senior Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) did not make a save on the night as she recorded her first loss of 2009. Prior to allowing the San Diego goals, Guthrie spent 404 minutes in goal without letting a ball pass.
The Scarlet Knights wrap up their west coast trip Sunday night as they take on host Arizona at 10:00 p.m. ET. RU returns home Friday, Sept. 18 for the squad's first BIG EAST show down with the Seton Hall Pirates.
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