PISCATAWAY, N.J. – With 11 seconds remaining in the final overtime period, sophomore forward
Amirah Ali netted the game winner to lift Rutgers women's soccer to a 2-1 victory over Iowa on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field.
After the Hawkeyes (4-4-1, 0-2-0) took an early 1-0 lead in the match, sophomore forward
Nneka Moneme scored the equalizer for the Scarlet Knights (5-1-3, 1-0-1) to force overtime. In the waning seconds, senior back
Kenie Wright sent a pass from midfield into the box, junior midfielder
Nicole Whitley then set up Ali's golden goal.
QUICK STATS
Moneme and Ali recorded the goals for RU, while junior back
Chantelle Swaby, Whitley and Wright added the assist. Freshman goalkeeper
Meagan McClelland notched three saves in the victory.
Iowa's Kaleigh Haus registered a goal, as Cora Meyers recorded five saves in the loss.
Rutgers outshot its opponent for the ninth straight game, leading 16-6 in shots.
THE MATCH
Iowa claimed an early 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute of the match. The Hawkeyes' Haus took control of a 50-50 ball deflected past the defense, breaking away to shoot from the top of the box to the left side of the net for the goal.
The Scarlet Knights remained relentless, leading on the board in shots (6-4) and corner kicks (3-0) as the teams headed into halftime.
Rutgers' pursuit continued into the second frame, as Moneme would find the back of the net for RU in the 74th minute to tie the score at 1-1. Off a pass from Swaby, Moneme shot from about 15-yards out to the opposite post for the goal.
In the matches final seconds, Wright sent in a pass from midfield. Whitley received and sent a long diagonal pass to Ali, who used one touch to net the game winner.
UP NEXT
Rutgers readies for three straight Big Ten road matches, starting with Maryland on Sunday, Sept. 23.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers improved to 1-0-2 in overtime matches this season.
- Amirah Ali scored the game winner in the final 11 seconds of the match, bringing her season total to six goals. Ali also netted the game winner in the ranked overtime win over Wisconsin last season, scoring 26 seconds into the first OT period.
- Nicole Whitley added her sixth assist of the season, while Kenie Wright added her fourth of the year.
- Chantelle Swaby registered the first assist of her career.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Twitter and Instagram (@RUAthletics) and on Facebook (Rutgers Athletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's soccer, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RUWSoccer), and on Facebook (Rutgers Women's Soccer). For additional updates, please download the
Gameday App.
- RU-
