Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 23/21 Rutgers women's soccer team got back to its winning ways Friday night at Ohio State, defeating the Buckeyes, 2-0. The victory cements Rutgers as at least the No. 5 seed for the Big Ten Tournament. If Minnesota loses or draws its match against Northwestern tomorrow, Rutgers would secure the No. 4 seed.

The Scarlet Knights (12-4-1, 8-4-1 Big Ten) have now officially advanced to a postseason conference tournament for 15-straight seasons.

"It was a great team effort today and the girls played well in tough conditions," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "Consistency is part of everything that we do. In order to get to the postseason, you need to have a good foundation of teaching. Because there is a good foundation of habits, it allows us to be successful from game-to-game."

Senior forward Stef Scholz (South Hackensack, N.J.) notched the game-winner for Rutgers, her team-leading fourth of the season. Redshirt junior Amanda DeVolk (Frisco, Texas) found Scholz with a cross in the 20th minute, allowing her to connect from 10 yards out and give the Scarlet Knights the lead. The assist with DeVolk's second of the year.

Later to begin the second half, sophomore forward Madison Tiernan (Voorhees, N.J.) joined the scoring with a rebound finish in the 50th. Sophomore Jennifer Andresen (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) blasted a shot to begin the sequence, setting Tiernan up for the tap-in goal. The goal was her sixth of the year, tying her with Scholz for the team lead.

Freshman goalkeeper Casey Murphy (Bridgewater, N.J.) made a pair of saves in the match, none bigger than a diving punch in the 85th to preserve the clean sheet, RU's 10th of the year.

With the win and Iowa loss Friday night, Rutgers clinched at least the No. 5 seed for the Big Ten Conference Tournament and will await the result of the Minnesota/Northwestern match, set to kick off Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

If Minnesota loses or draws tomorrow, the Scarlet Knights would secure the No. 4 seed for the Big Ten Conference Tournament. If Minnesota wins, RU would become the No. 5 seed and face the Golden Gophers.

Regardless, Rutgers will begin the tournament at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 in West Lafayette, Ind., as part of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup. Depending on the Minnesota result, RU will face either the Golden Gophers or Iowa in the first round.

Iowa lost its season finale Friday against Nebraska by a 2-1 margin, but would secure the No. 5 seed if Minnesota loses due to the Hawkeyes' tiebreaker advantage over the Golden Gophers.

Game Notes

• The victory Friday night snapped a three-game losing streak for the Scarlet Knights. It also secured at least a No. 5 seed for the Big Ten Conference Tournament, hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
• The Scarlet Knights posted their first two-goal output since defeating Illinois, 2-1, on Oct. 17. The goals were the first for RU in three contests.
• All-time, RU now leads Ohio State, 3-0-0.
• Rutgers recorded its 10th shutout of the season, one shy of tying its total of 11 from 2013.
• RU posted double-digit shots for the 35th time in its last 39 matches.
• Tiernan and Scholz each scored and are now tied for the team lead with six on the season.
• The Scarlet Knights have won 11 of their last 16 matchups (11-4-1) against Big Ten schools dating back to 2008.
• Junior Hayley Katkowski (Westford, Mass.) started her 61st consecutive game in the midfield for Rutgers.
• Katkowki and backs Erica Skroski (Galloway, N.J.), Erin Smith (Medford Lakes, N.J.) and Brianne Reed (Tinton Falls, N.J.) all logged the full 90 minutes of action.

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