No. 25 WSOC Meets No. 4 UVA in Second Round
Nov 19 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 25/21 Rutgers women's soccer team travels to No. 4/4 Virginia to take on the Cavaliers Friday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium and will feature one of the best defensive squads in the country in Rutgers versus the nation's top scoring offense in UVA.
INTERACTIVE BRACKET | | GAME NOTES | WEBSITE | 2014 STATISTICS | ROSTER | FACT BOOK Rutgers (13-5-1) enters the contest after dropping La Salle, 2-0, at home in the first round of the tournament (Nov. 14) - the program's first tourney win since Nov. 10, 2012, when the squad topped Colgate, 1-0, in Charlottesville, Va.
Redshirt junior Amanda DeVolk (Frisco, Texas) scored the first game-winner of her career in the third minute before senior Stef Scholz (South Hackensack, N.J.) added an insurance goal in the 54th minute of action.
Freshman goalkeeper Casey Murphy (Bridgewater, N.J.) made three saves in the win, while the backline of Rutgers surrendered just six shots to the Explorers in the contest.
The winner between Rutgers and Virginia (19-2) will advance to the NCAA Third Round and face the winner of No. 3-seeded Kentucky (15-6-1)/Arizona State (12-5-4). That contest is set for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23 at Klöckner Stadium.
Rutgers Quick Kicks
- The Scarlet Knights qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season and the fifth time in the last seven years.
- The Scarlet Knights seek their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2008.
- The Scarlet Knights were ranked by the NSCAA (No. 25) and Soccer America (No. 21) in their final regular season polls. TopDrawerSoccer.com had Rutgers at No. 20 this week.
- Defense has been a key part of RU's success this season. Rutgers is ninth in the nation in GAA (0.52), 11th in save percentage (.861) and 19th in shutout percentage (.580).
- Murphy is 11th in the nation in GAA (0.52) and 20th in save percentage (.855).
- The Scarlet Knights have used just four different starting lineups this season.
- The Scarlet Knights have recorded double-digit shots in all 19 matches this season, including 37 of their last 41 contests dating back to 2013.
- RU has displayed its depth time and time again this season. Through 19 matches, head coach Mike O'Neill has cycled in at least six reserves 18 times, with six logging more than 10 minutes in 16 of 19 contests. The Scarlet Knights have used at least eight reserves in eight of 12 contests dating back to the team's 1-0 win over Michigan State on Sept. 19.
- The Scarlet Knights are 37-54-11 all-time against current ACC members.
- Rutgers played Virginia in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Despite taking an early 1-0 lead, the Scarlet Knights dropped the contest by a 6-1 mark.
Scouting Virginia
- No. 2-seeded Virginia topped High Point, 8-0, at home in its first round NCAA Tournament contest on Nov. 14.
- Virginia enters Friday's match tied for first with East Tennessee State as the best scoring offense in the nation. The Cavaliers have scored at an astounding rate, averaging 3.48 goals per contest with 73 goals in 21 matches.
- The team is second in the country with 215 total points and third in assists (69).
- Makenzy Doniak leads the Cavaliers' attack with 15 goals and eight assists (38 points). Behind her are seven players with at least four goals on the year: Brittany Ratcliffe (nine), Morgan Reuther (eight), Morgan Brian (seven), Danielle Colaprico (six), Alexis Shaffer (five), Meghan Cox (four) and Kristen McNabb (four).
- Doniak's point total is good for 12th in the country.
- Colaprico is sixth in the nation with 16 assists.
- UVA is 12-0-0 at home this season. The Cavaliers have won 29 consecutive matches at home.
- The team's only two losses this year have come against No. 2/2 Florida State on Nov. 9 and Sept. 28, both by a 1-0 score.
All-time Series vs. the Cavaliers
- Rutgers and Virginia are tied, 3-3, in all-time series history. UVA has come out on the winning end in the last three meetings between the two schools, including once last season (Sept. 6) and once in the 2012 NCAA Tournament (Nov. 16). All three matches were played at Klöckner Stadium. The Scarlet Knights began the series versus the Cavaliers with three consecutive wins from 1986-88.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (Rutgers Athletics ) and Twitter (@RUAthletics ) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's soccer, follow the program on Facebook (Rutgers Women's Soccer ), Twitter (@RUWSoccer ) and Instagram (@RUWSoccer). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com .
