No. 23/21 WSOC Closes Season Friday at OSU
Oct 29 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 23/21 Rutgers women's soccer team wraps up its inaugural regular season in the Big Ten Conference Friday night at Ohio State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at McClimon Complex, with the match holding Big Ten Tournament implications for both teams.
The match will be streamed live on Buckeye Vision via OhioStateBuckeyes.com. A subscription is required.
GAME NOTES | WEBSITE | 2014 STATISTICS | ROSTER | FACT BOOK Ohio State (6-9-3, 3-6-3 Big Ten) - Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.
Buckeye Vision (Subscription Required) | Rutgers (11-4-1, 7-4-1 Big Ten) enters its final regular season contest tied for fourth in the league with Iowa and Minnesota. The Scarlet Knights can lock up the No. 4 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Purdue, in two ways: with a win and a loss or draw by Minnesota, or if the three teams finish the season in a three-way tie by posting the same result this weekend.
A Rutgers win and Minnesota loss or draw would seal the No. 4 seed regardless of Iowa's result since RU owns the head-to-head advantage over the Hawkeyes.
A three-way tie for fourth to end the year would make Rutgers No. 4 due to the third three-team tiebreaker (points against teams seeded above tied teams). In the first two tiebreakers - points in games played vs. tied teams and wins in all conference games - the three teams would be even, sending it to a third tiebreaker.
As the No. 4 or No. 5 seed, Rutgers would open its first-ever Big Ten Conference Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. in West Lafayette, Ind. If the Scarlet Knights finish the season at No. 6, they would open the tournament at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 and take on the No. 3 seed.
Rutgers Quick Kicks
- The Scarlet Knights enter the weekend ranked by the NSCAA (No. 23), Soccer America (No. 21) and TopDrawerSoccer.com (No. 24) for the fourth consecutive week.
- Defense has been a key part of RU's hot start. Rutgers is 11th in the nation in GAA (0.55) and 18th in save percentage (.852).
- Senior Stef Scholz (South Hackensack, N.J.) and sophomore Madison Tiernan (Voorhees, N.J.) are tied for fifth in the Big Ten with three game-winning goals.
- Scholz is currently tied for ninth on RU's all-time goals list with 20 in her career. She is also tied for seventh all-time with seven game-winning goals in her RU career.
- The Scarlet Knights have recorded double-digit shots in 34 of their last 38 matches dating back to the 2013 season.
- Rutgers is 15-18-4 all-time against the Big Ten Conference, but has won 10 of its last 15 (10-4-1) matches against league opponents dating back to the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Prior to this season, RU topped Ohio State, 1-0, in double overtime on Aug. 29, 2012 and defeated Penn State in consecutive meetings: 1-0 at No. 13 PSU on Sept. 6, 2009 and 2-1 vs. No. 20 PSU on Nov. 14, 2008 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Rutgers has captured three victories against ranked opponents this season: 1-0 at No. 6/7 Penn State (Oct. 11), 1-0 vs. No. RV/21 Michigan (Sept. 21) and 1-0 vs. No. RV/13 Iowa (Sept. 28). It is the most wins vs. ranked opponents since at least the 2008 season.
- RU has displayed its depth time and time again this season. Through 16 matches, head coach Mike O'Neill has cycled in at least six reserves in each match, with six logging more than 10 minutes in each contest. The Scarlet Knights have used at least eight reserves in eight of nine contests dating back to the team's 1-0 win over Michigan State on Sept. 19
Scouting Ohio State
- Ohio State, currently outside the top eight teams in the Big Ten, still has a chance at qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament. With a win and a loss or draw by Maryland, the Buckeyes would jump to No. 8 in the standings as the final team in. OSU is currently tied with Northwestern, but owns the head-to-head against the Wildcats.
- Sammy Edwards leads the team with six goals and 13 points this season. Behind her, Kayla Varner is the only other Buckeye with double-digit points.
- Megan Geldernick has played every minute in net for OSU this season. She has a 1.69 GAA, .686 save percentage and two shutouts.
- A win against Rutgers would give Ohio State consecutive league wins for the first time this season.
- Six players are tied for the team lead with one game-winning goal - Varner, Michela Paradiso, Alexis Degler, Nikki Walts, Taylor Schissler and Sydney Dudley.
All-time Series vs. the Buckeyes
- Rutgers is 2-0-0 all-time against Ohio State, last defeating the Buckeyes on Aug. 19, 2012 at home by a 1-0 margin in overtime. Former RU women's soccer great Jonelle Filigno scored the game-winner in the 101st minute.
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