Rutgers Women's Soccer Downs Providence College, 4-1
Oct 03 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 3, 2010) –The Rutgers women’s soccer team (8-5, 3-2) handily defeated Providence (8-3-1, 2-2-1) by a score of 4-1 Sunday at Yurcak Field. Redshirt senior Gina DeMaio (Parsippany, N.J.) notched two assists on the day, becoming RU’s all-time assist leader with 28 for her career.
“We played very well in both halves,” said head coach Glenn Crooks. “At halftime, we said in the locker room, ‘if you believe it will come, it will come.’ This (weekend) was certainly the best back-to-back games we’ve had all year. We are playing our best soccer right now.”
RU connected in the 54th minute as DeMaio crossed the ball to co-captain Karla Schacher (Tofield, Alberta) from the right side of the field. The ball hit the post and bounced to Schacher in front of the net, who buried it in the top left corner of the net to give RU a 1-0 lead.
The Scarlet Knights did not lose momentum, scoring three minutes later. Redshirt freshman Jonelle Filigno (Mississauga, Canada) took a shot from inside the box that was saved by PC netminder Caitlin Walker. The PC back line tried to clear it out of the box, but the ball hit a defender and Filgino had the last touch as it rolled into the net.
Redshirt sophomore April Price (Mechanicsville, Va.) found the net in the 72nd minute on a DeMaio corner kick. From five yards out, Price headed the cross into the net to put RU up by three. With her second helper, DeMaio passed Jennifer Gibbons (1989-92) for the most assists in RU history.
“I have seen Gina play since she was 13 years old,” said Crooks. “She is a great distributor of the ball – right or left. She sees the game so well that she puts players in good spots to score goals. It could be on the net, in the air or off set pieces. I am very happy for Gina because it was her class that really helped put us on the map.”
The final RU goal came from senior Ashley Jones (Feasterville, Pa.) – her first at home since Sept. 18, 2009. The forward made an inside-out move from 20 yards out and one-timed the ball into the left side of the net to give the Scarlet Knights their fourth goal of the half.
PC scored in the 88th minute on a free kick from the left side of the box. Laura Diclemente booted the ball to the top right corner, as goalkeeper Casey Rupon (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) got two hands on it, but could not push the shot away.
Filigno had a goal called back in the first minute on a late offside call. Five minutes later, redshirt junior Tricia DiPaolo (Sparta, N.J.) nearly capitalized as she belted the ball towards the net from just inside the box. Walker pushed the ball up, hitting the crossbar and bouncing out.
The Scarlet Knights notched another opportunity in the 30th minute as redshirt sophomore Stefanee Pace (Kearny, N.J.) crossed the ball from the right sideline to Price, who hit the post. Filigno corralled the rebound right in front of the net, but was blocked by a PC defender.
Rutgers dominated possession throughout the game, outshooting Providence, 21-12, including 11-2 in the first stanza. RU also took six more corner kicks than PC and did not allow one in the second half.
Rutgers travels to the Midwest next weekend to take on DePaul and Notre Dame. The Scarlet Knights and Blue Demons will kick off Friday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. ET. RU and UND will kick off Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.
Game Notes
*Rutgers moves to 14-1 all-time against Providence. The Scarlet Knights extend their win streak at home against the Friars to six.
*RU moves to 36-9-6 at home since 2006. At home this season, the Scarlet Knights are 6-2.
*RU moves to 3-1 when tied at half.
*The Scarlet Knights did not allow a shot on goal in the first half, allowing just two overall in the first 45 minutes. The first PC shot was 16 minutes into the match.
*The span between the first two RU goals was the shortest since Aug. 24, 2009 against UMBC when the Scarlet Knights tallied two scores in 1:46.
*The three-goal win marked the largest margin of victory over a BIG EAST team since Villanova (5-0) on Sept. 22, 2008.
*With one goal apiece, Jonelle Filigno, Karla Schacher and April Price all remain atop the team with four goals.
*Ashley Jones scored her first goal at home since Seton Hall last season (Sept. 18, 2009).
*Rutgers used 27 players in today’s match. Every Scarlet Knight saw action except for two backup goalkeepers. Kristen Bradley, Maria Gerew and Casey Rupon all saw their first action of 2010.
