PISCATAWAY, N.J. –The No. 21 Rutgers women's soccer team opened its 2017 campaign with a 3-0 shutout of Loyola Marymount on Friday afternoon at Yurcak Field. A goal each for freshmen Amirah Ali and Alaysia Lane, and another from sophomore Carina Hendley backed by a clean sheet for redshirt junior Casey Murphy guided RU to a 1-0 record on the season.

"It's nice to get the season started," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "We came out and did some good things. We scored three goals and gave up nothing. I'm happy with the result, with what we did on the attacking side and with our commitment to defending."

Ali and Lane scored their first career goals as Scarlet Knights, while Hendley added the third of her career. Nicole Whitley, the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Taylor Aylmer, Big Ten All-Freshman, each added assists.

In her return to the Scarlet Knight lineup, Murphy, a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List selection, picked up the win and posted the 30th shutout of her career in a four-save effort.
Lane got the offense rolling with RU's first goal in the 23rd minute of the contest. Shortly after, a midfield pass from Aylmer set up a Hendley breakaway to put the Scarlet Knights up 2-0 at the 36th minute of play.

Returning from the break, Ali wasted no time adding another RU goal to the board. With help from Whitley on a set piece right outside the 18-yard box, Ali found the back of the net on a shot to the near post, cushioning the Scarlet Knight lead at 3-0 in the 47th minute.

Although LMU tallied nine shots in the game, Murphy and the defense forced failed attempts and denied any from crossing through the pipes.

Rutgers returns to action on Sunday, Aug. 20 with a match against Monmouth. Start time is set for 2 p.m. ET at Yurcak Field.

GAME NOTES

• Rutgers moved to a record of 25-5-4 all-time in season openers.
• Since the start of the 2006 season, the Scarlet Knights hold a record of 93-17-12 at Yurcak Field.
• Murphy returned to the Scarlet Knight lineup after joining the U.S. Under-20 Women's National at the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Papua New Guinea last year. With the win, she picked up the 30th shutout and 33rd win of her career
• Whitley, the league leader in assists last season, added the 11th assist of her career.
• Freshmen Aolani Colon, Alexa Ferreira, Dana Goldstein, Gabby Provenzano, Ciara Terabasso, Ali and Lane all saw their first action as Scarlet Knights.

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