Nneka Moneme's Overtime Goal Lifts #12 Women's Soccer to Victory Over Illinois, 2-1

Sunday, September 24

Champaign, IL

2:00 PM

Rutgers

8-0-2, 2-0-1B1G

Illinois

3-9-0, 0-4-0B1G

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
Rutgers	0	1	1	2
Illinois	0	1	0	1

Nneka Moneme's Overtime Goal Lifts #12 Women's Soccer to Victory Over Illinois, 2-1

Sep 24 | Women's Soccer

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

Scarlet Knights improve to 8-0-2 overall and 2-0-1 in Big Ten play

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Freshman forward Nneka Moneme found a prime time for the first goal of her career as she lifted No. 12 Rutgers women's soccer to a 2-1 victory over Illinois in overtime on Sunday afternoon.

"I always try to help the team and do the best I can on the field," said Moneme. "I am very happy about my first career goal. I need to play with that same mentality every game. During the play, in my head, I reminded myself of our game plan and thought of what I was going to do with the ball before it came to me and how I could make an impact."

After senior forward Colby Ciarrocca gave Rutgers (8-0-2, 2-0-1 Big Ten) a 1-0 lead in the 63^rd minute of the contest, Illinois (3-9-0, 0-4-0) countered with a goal nearly ten minutes later. Less than four minutes into overtime, freshman Amirah Ali sent a pass to Moneme at the top of the box, who would score on a one-time shot.

"Every day we talk about everybody being plugged in, coming in and getting better because there is going to be a time you are going to be called upon. That is what Nneka did today," said head coach Mike O'Neill.

Rutgers fired off five shots on goal in the first 16 minutes of the contest. Although RU's early shots did not translate to a goal, the Scarlet Knights were solid on defense to hold the Fighting Illini to a single shot in the first half. At halftime, the score remained even at 0-0.

As the Scarlet Knights continued to rattle off shots well into the second half, it was Ciarrocca who would find the back of the net in the 63^rd minute. Off a short pass from sophomore midfielder Alexa Ferreira, Ciarrocca evaded defenders and beat the keeper to give RU a 1-0 lead in the contest.

However, Illinois countered with a goal off a corner kick in the 75^th minute for a 1-1 tie on the board. It marked the first goal conceded by the Scarlet Knights in 2017.

In the 94^th minute of the contest, Ali would make a pass from midfield to Moneme at the top of the box. Moneme used a one-time shot to the center of the net for the win.

Up next, Rutgers returns home for a rematch of the 2016 Big Ten Championship with Minnesota on Friday, Sept. 29. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET at Yurcak Field.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers entered the contest as the only team in NCAA Division I (men or women) to have not let up a goal. The streak ended at 924:07 minutes, marking the longest opponent scoreless stretch in program history.
Rutgers moved to a record of 1-0-2 in overtime contests this season.
Colby Ciarrocca added her sixth goal of the year, leading the team with 14 points (6g, 2a).
Nneka Moneme posted the first goal and game winner of her career.
Overall, 16 of Rutgers 24 goals have been scored by an underclassman this season. Moneme's goal marks the seventh goal by a freshman.
Amirah Ali contributed the third assist of her career, ranking second on the team with 11 points (4g, 3a).

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