Smith, Tiernan Garner NSCAA All-Region Accolades
Nov 30 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Senior captains Madison Tiernan and Erin Smith of Rutgers women's soccer were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Great Lakes Region Second Team, announced Tuesday evening.
NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Teams
Tiernan and Smith, both four-year starters for the Scarlet Knights (12-5-6), helped RU to its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and third conference final in the last four seasons.
A forward, Tiernan paced Rutgers offensively with 28 points on 11 goals and six assists. The Voorhees, New Jersey, native started all 23 matches for RU during her career-best season, which vaulted her into the top 10 of numerous statistical categories.
Tiernan finished her career at Rutgers second all-time in shots (275), tied for fifth in game-winning goals (nine), sixth in total goals (25), and seventh points (66). The Second Team All-Big Ten selection also scored twice in the Scarlet Knights' first round NCAA tournament victory over Harvard on Nov. 12.
Smith, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, started 73 consecutive matches along the backline to close out her career. The outside back led a youthful defensive unit and helped RU to maintain a goals-against average below 1.0 (0.78) for the seventh time since 2008. Rutgers surrendered just 9.5 shots per game to opponents and recorded 12 clean sheets on the year.
Rutgers qualified for its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 11th overall, posting the program's 22nd season of double-digit wins in 32 years of soccer. The Scarlet Knights have advanced to three of their last four conference title games.
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