Rutgers
Arizona
No. 17/11 Rutgers Blanks Arizona, 3-0
Sep 14 | Women's Soccer
TUCSON, Ariz. - The No. 17/11 Rutgers women's soccer team (5-1-1) blanked the Arizona Wildcats (2-4-1), 3-0, Sunday night in Tucson, Ariz. at the Marriott University Park Tournament. Junior Ashley Jones (Feasterville, Pa.) played a part in all three goals on the night, scoring twice and assisting on one. This is the third-consecutive game that Jones has scored, vaulting her atop the team with nine points on the season. For the tournament, Jones, senior Jen Anzivino (Middletown, N.J.), and redshirt freshman Stefanee Pace (Kearny, N.J.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
| JONES |
"We started out very strong, which was our plan," said head coach Glenn Crooks. "The players wanted to come out hard, score early and put Arizona on their heels. It was a very physical game, and at times not pretty. I thought it was a well-played game and one that we needed to win after the loss on Friday."
The Scarlet Knights took no time bouncing back from Friday's loss, as Pace scored in the third minute of the game. Jones recorded the assist on the play. For Pace, this was her third goal of the season.
In the 19th minute, Jones made a great run down the field, corralling a well-played ball from junior Rheanne Sleiman (North Vancouver, Canada). Jones angled the ball to the right and sent a shot low and hard past Arizona goalkeeper Devon Wharf for the score. The assist was the second on the year for Sleiman, fifth for her career.
With 30 minutes left in the game, Jones scored her second goal of the game, fourth of the season. The speedy forward beat the Arizona defense, sending the ball with her left foot to the left corner of the net past Wharf.
Senior Kristie Lang (East Brunswick, N.J.) belted a shot towards the Arizona goalkeeper in the 55th minute, but the Wildcat netminder made the save. Redshirt freshman April Price (Mechanicsville, Va.) had an open look that hit the crossbar with 29 minutes to go in the game.
Arizona had an opportunity at the end of the half, as Renae Cuellar sent a rocket towards senior keeper Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.), but the captain made a diving save to deny Arizona's lead scorer.
The Scarlet Knights outshot the Wildcats 10-8 on the night. Guthrie made four saves in the effort, earning her fourth shutout of the season, 37th clean sheet of her career to extend her all-time shutout record at Rutgers.
With a 1-1 weekend, Rutgers sits at No. 3 in the BIG EAST standings with a .786 winning percentage.
RU returns home Friday, Sept. 18 for the squad's first BIG EAST show down with the Seton Hall Pirates. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
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