Oct. 15, 2015 Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- For the second time in her rookie season, freshman defender Adora Moneme (Union, N.J.) sent No. 25 Rutgers women's soccer home with a victory.
Moneme blasted the game-winning goal in the 39th minute, sophomore Colby Ciarrocca (Montgomery, N.J.) added another late, and the Scarlet Knights secured a 2-0 win Thursday night against Ohio State at Yurcak Field.
Entering the match tied for sixth with the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Conference standings, the win secured three critical points ahead of a showdown with No. 9 Penn State Sunday in Piscataway.
"I thought we kept the ball well against a good team," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "I thought we created chances, and the chances that we created we happened to finish two of them with good soccer - good soccer decisions.
"We talk so much about being in the final third and just the awareness and execution, and we did that tonight. We're happy with the possession, we're happy with what we did in the final third. We still want more."
The game-winning strike was set up perfectly by junior defender Erin Smith (Medford Lakes, N.J.), who from the near side of the 18, crossed a ball over to senior Rachel Cole (Teaneck, N.J.) on the far side.
Cole recognized Moneme standing 12 yards out and immediately sent the ball middle, where the freshman finished with her right foot to give RU the lead.
Ciarrocca iced the match in the 82nd minute with her team-leading fourth goal of the season. The forward made a run downfield on a breakaway and in a scramble deflected a ball off of OSU keeper Devon Kerr in front.
Ciarrocca eventually got past Kerr and pushed the ball over the goal line.
Solid defense from the Scarlet Knights once again kept the opposition in check offensively. Rutgers has held three consecutive opponents to exactly seven shots, going 2-0-1 in that stretch.
Sophomore goalkeeper Casey Murphy (Bridgewater, N.J.) made three saves in what was her 12th shutout of the season. The 12 shutouts are the most for Rutgers as a team since 2009, and the second-most all-time for a single RU keeper.
Erin Guthrie (2006-09) has the program record for individual shutouts in a season with 14 in 2006. That year, Rutgers posted 16 shutouts overall, which still stands as a program record.
"On the other side of the ball, these kids work so hard and defend as a unit. It's inspiring to watch," O'Neill said.
The Scarlet Knights (11-2-2, 4-2-2 Big Ten) face No. 9 Penn State (11-2-2, 6-1-1 Big Ten) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Yurcak Field in their biggest test of the season. The Nittany Lions represent the second ranked foe this season for Rutgers, and first in conference play.
Prior to the contest, RU will honor its senior class. The match will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
Game Notes
- Rutgers extended its current unbeaten streak to five matches (3-0-2) with the win.
- RU improves to 4-0 all-time against Ohio State.
- The Scarlet Knights are 45-2-2 since 2008 when leading at halftime. Rutgers is 6-0 this season, was 8-0 in 2014 and was 7-1-1 in 2013.
- Rutgers is 27-2-1 in its last 30 contests at home. The Scarlet Knights are 7-0-1 "On the Banks" this season.
- When using at least eight reserves in matches this season, Rutgers is unbeaten (11-0-1).
- Moneme's goal was the second of her career and first since the first match of the season. Both goals were game-winners.
- With another goal Thursday night, Ciarrocca extended her Rutgers lead with four goals and 11 points this season.
- The assist by Cole was her first in 2015. Smith added her second assist of the year on Ciarrocca's scoring play.
- Senior midfielder Hayley Katkowski (Westford, Mass.) started her 79th consecutive game for Rutgers since her career began in 2012.
- Murphy has 12 shutouts this season, setting a new personal record. The 12 shutouts for the Scarlet Knights are the most since posting 12 during the 2009 season.
- Senior back Erica Skroski (Galloway, N.J.) played the full time for the 14th time this season. Senior center back Brianne Reed (Tinton Falls, N.J.) and Katkowski logged the full time for the ninth time.
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