Oct. 6, 2016 Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Senior Madison Tiernan fired a rebound into the back of the net in the 99th minute to give No. 24 Rutgers women's soccer a 2-1 overtime win against Purdue Thursday night at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights (9-2-2, 4-1-1) earned their first OT win of the season, playing in extra time for the third time in four contests.
"I thought [Purdue] was a good side. They had opportunities to score and I thought Alana Jimenez was brilliant tonight," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "I think both teams had opportunities to score. For us to win in overtime was big for us because we've been in a couple of games this year in overtime and they haven't gone our way. I think good teams find ways to win when they don't play their best, and that's what we did tonight."
Tiernan's goal was her third game-winner of the year and allowed the Scarlet Knights to keep pace atop the Big Ten standings. Following the victory RU remains tied for third with Northwestern and Minnesota.
Senior goalkeeper Alana Jimenez made five saves in the match, each one growing in significance and difficulty as the clock ticked. Jimenez made crucial back-to-back saves in the 19th minute on Purdue's Hannah Leinert on a breakaway, and two more in the final three minutes of regulation to send the game to extra time.
The Scarlet Knights tied the Boilermakers (3-9-0, 1-5-0) on a goal from junior Colby Ciarrocca in the 63rd minute. Tiernan pushed the ball down the left side all the way to the end line before centering to Ciarrocca in the middle of the box for the goal.
Purdue took a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute on a finish from Vanessa Korolas. Korolas charged down the far side past the RU defense and shot past a diving Jimenez for the score.
Purdue goalkeeper Jordan Ginther made 11 saves on the night, as the Scarlet Knights totaled 20 shots and 13 on goal.
Rutgers closes out the weekend on at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9 at Indiana. The match will stream live on BTN Plus.
GAME NOTES
• The Scarlet Knights improved to 2-0-1 all-time against Purdue with their victory Thursday.
• RU played in is fifth overtime match and third in four contests Thursday night. The Scarlet Knights are 1-2-2 in OT matches this season.
• Rutgers, which entered the weekend leading the Big Ten in shots on goal, has posted at least eight shots on goal in 10 of 13 matches.
• With 17 points (6g, 5a) this season and 55 (20g, 15a) in her career, Tiernan is now tied with Gina DeMaio for 10th on Rutgers' all-time list. Her 17 points ties her personal-best recorded as a freshman in 2013.
• Tiernan is now tied for seventh all-time with eight game-winning goals.
• Ciarrocca scored for her fifth goal this season.
• Tiernan and Ciarrocca have each recorded points in three-straight games.
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