EAST LANSING, MICH. – With 31 seconds left in double-overtime, junior midfielder Nicole Whitley lifted No. 23 Rutgers women's soccer to victory on the road at Michigan State Thursday night. The Scarlet Knights improved to 10-2-5 overall, 6-1-3 in the Big Ten, and 6-0-5 in extra time.
 
It marked the Scarlet Knights 11th overtime of the year, matching the NCAA record for most in a single season. RU has gone to OT in 10 of its last 11 contests.
 

VICTORY!! Nicole Whitley with the golden goal with less than a minute in 2OT for RU!! Marks RU's sixth OT win this season, a program record #NoRetreat pic.twitter.com/PChQSDvZid

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) October 19, 2018

 
 
QUICK STATS
Whitley registered her second goal of the season, marking her second game winner as well. Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Meagan McClelland recorded three saves in the win, claiming her eighth shutout of the season and fifth in Big Ten play.  
 
Overall, Rutgers led Michigan State in shots, 14-8, as the Scarlet Knights outshot their opponent for the 15th time this season.
 
MSU's goalkeeper Reilly Ott registered nine saves against RU's 10 shots on goal.
 
THE MATCH
Rutgers kicked off the match with power on the attack, rattling off six shots on goal in the half. The Spartans' Ott, howvever, registered six of her nine saves to keep the match scoreless.
 
Overall, the RU offense recorded eight shots in the frame, while the defense held MSU to just a single shot in the half. The score would remain balanced at 0-0 entering halftime.
 
The Spartans found a spark returning from the break, leading in shots 4-1 in the second half. The Scarlet Knights, however, remained resilient to extend the game into extra time yet again.
 
Rutgers sealed the win in the waning seconds of overtime, this time from the foot of Whitley. Following a throw in, sophomore forward Nneka Moneme swiftly passed to Whitley. Whitley dribbled into the box, sending the shot to the far post for the victory. It marked RU's sixth win in OT this season, a program record. 
 

What a win for the Scarlet Knights! What was the mindset for Nicole Whitley and @RUWSoccer heading into their 11th overtime of the season? Find out below!#RFutbol pic.twitter.com/G3Xc0YWcPy

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) October 19, 2018

 
UP NEXT
Rutgers closes out the regular season at home with Senior Day against Purdue on Sunday at 1 p.m. Prior to the match, RU will honor its four graduating seniors – Adora Moneme, Madison Pogarch, Brianna Scarola and Kenie Wright.
 
KNIGHT NOTES

• With its 11th overtime match of the year, Rutgers matched the NCAA record for most overtimes in a single season. The Scarlet Knights have gone to extra time in 10 of its last 11 matches.
• Rutgers picked up its sixth overtime win of the season, marking the most wins in extra time in program history. RU is unbeaten in all OT matches this season with a mark of 6-0-5.
• Rutgers improved to 4-1-2 overall on the road, including a 3-1-2 in league matches. 
• Whitley added her second game winner of the season and fourth of her career.
• McClelland posted her eighth shutout of the season and fifth in Big Ten play.
• Chantelle Swaby returned to the lineup following a stint with the Jamaican Women's National Team at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship. Swaby aided the Reggae Girlz in qualifying for the nation's first-ever World Cup.

  
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