Women’s Soccer 2018 Season Recap

Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)

Dec 12 | Women's Soccer

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Year after year Rutgers women's soccer continues to raise the bar on the program's standard. The 2018 season proved no different as the Scarlet Knights contributed to the tradition and strengthened the legacy.

The squad posted an overall record of 11-4-6, RU's seventh straight season with 11 or more victories. The mark included a Big Ten record of 7-1-3, with a 4-0-1 mark at Yurcak Field, propelling the Scarlet Knights to their highest finish in the conference as the runner-up for the regular season title.

Qualifying for its fifth straight conference tournament since joining the league in 2014, Rutgers earned its highest seed to date at No. 2 and hosted a quarterfinal for the third time. The Scarlet Knights went on to earn a bid to their seventh straight NCAA Tournament, ninth in the last 11 years and 13th time overall.

"It was a good season once again with great accomplishments on and off the field. With that, we are of course we are always looking to accomplish more year in and year out," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "We always talk about the areas that we need to improve on to become a championship team. We will continue to focus on those areas to raise the bar and the standard."

WALL OF ACCOLADES
Coinciding with the historic campaign, Rutgers saw a program-record seven Scarlet Knights earn All-Big Ten accolades. Additionally, RU earned an All-American and four All-Region selections.

"Any accolade or achievement presented to this team represents the program as a whole. When one achieves; we all achieve," said O'Neill. "It speaks volumes that we received the most Big Ten accolades in program history. It is another example of continuing to raise the standard."

Sophomore forward Amirah Ali led the squad by becoming a Second Team All-American, RU's sixth All-American in the last eight seasons and 15th overall. She also earned First Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-North Region recognition.

Freshman goalkeeper Meagan McClelland bestowed the honor of Big Ten Freshman of the Year, marking the third straight season a Scarlet Knight earned the award and fourth straight claiming at least one of the Big Ten's major awards. It is just the second time in Big Ten history a single program was awarded the honor in three straight years. McClelland also earned Third Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Freshman, and Third Team All-Region honors.

Senior back Kenie Wright recorded Second Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-Region. Senior back Madison Pogarch, a Senior CLASS Award Candidate, earned Third Team All-Big Ten and Second Team All-Region honors.

Junior back Chantelle Swaby (Third Team All-Big Ten), junior midfielder Nicole Whitley (Third Team All-Big Ten), and freshman back Shea Holland (Big Ten All-Freshman) wrapped up the athletic accolades for RU.

In the classroom, 13 Scarlet Knights garnered Academic All-Big Ten accolades. The group included Taylor Aylmer, Aolani Colon, Dana Goldstein, Carina Hendley, Jezlyn Jimenez, Megan Katona, Brittany LaPlant, Adora Moneme, Gabby Provenzano, Brianna Scarola, Chantelle Swaby, Amanda Visco, and Kenie Wright.

Additionally, Swaby was named Scholar All-East Region Third Team honoree by United Soccer Coaches.

BREAKING RECORDS
The Scarlet Knights matched a rare NCAA record competing in 11 overtimes in a single season, including a program-record nine straight contests beyond regulation.

Embodying the year's motto of "No Retreat", Rutgers remained resilient when it mattered most, posting an unbeaten record of 6-0-5 in those matches. The six OT victories were the most in a single season in program history, all of which came in conference play.

Additionally, Ali registered four golden goals and assisted another in the span, marking the most OT goals for a Scarlet Knight in a single season.

CONSISTENT NATIONAL PROMINENCE
The Scarlet Knights wrapped up the regular season in the Top 25 for the fifth straight year. Overall, Rutgers has been ranked or receiving votes in the polls for 13 consecutive years.

THANK YOU SENIORS
The Scarlet Knights bid farewell to a senior class that extended the year into the postseason for four straight years, including four NCAA Tournament bids and Big Ten Tournaments. The group also had a hand in guiding RU to a conference final and the school's first ever trip to the College Cup. The group of Adora Moneme, Madison Pogarch, Brianna Scarola and Kenie Wright leave an impressive legacy and strong foundation for the future.

"We are forever thankful for this senior class," said O'Neill. "When you spend four years with this group, they become family and will always be a part of us.

"What these four have sacrificed for the team and the program on and off has continuously raised the bar and has set this program's standard high. This program now has a stronger foundation because of their dedication to leaving the program better than they found it. They will be missed very much, but will always be a part of our family. They will always be Scarlet Knights."

2019 SEASON OUTLOOK
The 2019 Scarlet Knight roster returns an All-American, two all-region honorees, and five All-Big Ten selections. With a mix of returners with multiple years of leadership experience and talented newcomers, Rutgers' tradition of raising the bar and pushing the standard is in good hands.

"We are excited for future. We will return quality student-athletes, while adding depth with a talented incoming recruiting class," said O'Neill. "This offseason will be big for our players and staff to work hard and get better in those areas that needed to become champions. As always, we will focus on moving the culture and the standard forward to accomplish our 2019 goals."

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