PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's soccer captured its first ranked win of the season with an overtime goal from sophomore forward Amirah Ali Thursday night match at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights (8-1-4, 4-0-2) remain unbeaten in Big Ten matches and push to a record of 2-0-1 in league matches at home. 

Freshman Meagan McClelland, the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, matched her career-high saves for the second straight match with five in the contest. It marked her fifth shutout of the season and second in conference action.
 
 
THE MATCH
Rutgers and Northwestern played through an even first half each rattling off no more than five shots and the goalkeepers recording a save each.
 
Returning from halftime tied at 0-0, the Wildcats put on the pressure leading the Scarlet Knights 13-3 in shots throughout the frame. McClelland would come up with three big saves to keep NU off the board and extend the match into overtime.
 

Meagan McClelland with a BIG stop in the first overtime period! #NoRetreat pic.twitter.com/ibODcTGiHS

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) October 5, 2018

 
RU entered overtime with a focus on breaking through the NU defense, a unit that had only allowed six goals entering the match.

Ali, who entered the match with two overtime goals this season, did what she does best. Rebounding off a failed clear and shooting from about 18-yards out, she took the shot with her left foot and netted the golden goal inside the left post to lift RU to victory.

VICTORY!! Amirah Ali lifts #RFutbol to victory with her B1G-leading ninth goal of the season! Keeps RU unbeaten in Big Ten action 4-0-2! pic.twitter.com/MR2QvvGgWr

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) October 5, 2018

 
KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers made its season debut on the Big Ten Network.
• Rutgers last seven matches have entered overtime, as the Scarlet Knights hold a record of 4-0-3 in those contests. Overall, RU is 4-0-4 in overtime matches this year.
• Rutgers moved to 1-0-1 in ranked matchups this season, also playing to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at then-No. 22 Wisconsin
• Ali recorded her ninth goal of the season and fourth game winner of the year. Her four game winners pushed her into a tie for eighth on the Rutgers single-season charts.
• Ali has scored in three overtimes this season, scoring in the final 11 seconds of the match versus Iowa and less than a minute into overtime at Maryland. Last season, she netted the game winner in the ranked overtime win over Wisconsin, scoring 26 seconds into the first OT period also on BTN.
• Meagan McClelland recorded her second shutout in Big Ten play and fourth overall in her rookie season.
• The Scarlet Knights moved to a record of 107-19-17 at Yurcak Field dating back to 2006. RU owns a record of 2-0-1 in league action this season.
• RU's seven consecutive overtime matches this season is the longest since the Scarlet Knights registered five straight overtime contests in 2016. RU posted a 1-0-4 record during that span.  

 
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