PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 21 Rutgers women's soccer opens its 2017 campaign on Friday against Loyola Marymount at Yurcak Field with a new start time of 3:30 p.m. ET. The Scarlet Knights then host Monmouth on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
RUTGERS QUICK HITS
- Rutgers opens the season ranked No. 21 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.
- RU was picked to finish third in the Big Ten Conference according to a preseason vote by the league coaches. Last year, RU advanced to its second consecutive Big Ten Tournament Final and its fifth straight NCAA Tournament.
- Three Scarlet Knights - forward Colby Ciarrocca, midfielder Nicole Whitley and goalkeeper Casey Murphy - were named to the Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Honors List.
- Ciarrocca returns as RU's leading scorer after finishing second on the team with 17 points.
- Whitley enters the year after boasting 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten Third Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team accolades. Whitley led the squad with 10 assists in her rookie campaign, along with three goals.
- Murphy, a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List selection, is back with the Scarlet Knights after joining the U.S. Under-20 Women's National at the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Papua New Guinea last year. She started all six games in the net, boasting the most saves (21) and highest save ratio (77.8) among all goalkeepers at the tournament.
- For the full season preview, click here.
SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
- Loyola Marymount posted an 11-5-3 overall record and 6-3-0 West Coast Conference mark in 2016. The team returns all 11 starters from last season.
- LMU is selected to finish fourth in the WCC Preseason Poll, while Sarina Bolden, Maddie Medved, Charlee Pruitt and Gabbie Sanfilippo were named to the preseason all-conference team.
- Bolden earned All-WCC First Team with a team-high 15 points last year.
- Medved shared the team lead with 15 points of her own, earning All-WCC Second Team recognition.
- Pruitt and Sanfilippo also picked up All-WCC Second Team honors.
SERIES VS. THE LIONS
- The Scarlet Knights have prevailed in two of the three matchups against the Lions. The squads last met in 2015 with RU earning a 2-0 victory.
SCOUTING MONMOUTH
- Monmouth, the four-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Regular Season Champions, won the title in the MAAC Tournament to earn the automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
- The Hawks posted a 14-5-2 overall record and a 9-0-1 mark in league action. The team returns 18 letterwinners, including eight starters, and welcomes seven newcomers.
- MU was picked to repeat in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Madie Gibson was named MAAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Gibson and teammates Rachelle Ross, Gabriella Cuevas and Amanda Knaub were selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
- Gibson, the 2016 MAAC Rookie of the Year, returns after posting 33 points in her debut season.
- Ross earned First Team All-MAAC and NSCAA All-Region Third Team with 25 points of her own.
- Prior to its trip to Rutgers, Monmouth will open the season at Lehigh on Friday, Aug. 18.
SERIES VS. THE HAWKS
- Rutgers leads the series against Monmouth, 14-2-1. The teams last met in 2012 with RU capturing a 3-0 win at home.
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.
