Box Score PISCATAWAY, N.J. – RV/21 Rutgers women's soccer defeated Penn State, 3-2, in double overtime on the road Thursday night. Junior forward
Amirah Ali converted on a penalty kick in the 101st minute to lift the Scarlet Knights to victory.
"After the past two games, it was really important for our team to stick together and come up with a strong game plan," said senior defender
Amanda Visco. "We had to stick to our details and come out with a tremendous amount of energy and that's exactly what we did during the game. Our mentality is that we may bend but we don't break and that showed tonight in a huge team win."
Rutgers improved to 8-2-1 overall on the season and 2-2-0 in Big Ten play, while Penn State dropped to 6-6-1 and 2-3-0 in league action.
QUICK STATS
Senior forward
Brittany LaPlant recorded a goal and an assist in the win. Classmate
Jenna Sayers added a goal of her own. Ali posted her fourth game winner of the season and third in overtime. Sophomore goalkeeper
Meagan McClelland registered five saves on the night.
Penn State's Kerry Abello scored both goals for the Nittany Lions. PSU's goalkeeper Amanda Dennis recorded four saves in the loss.
THE MATCH
Playing through a downpour in the first half, the teams remained even with shots tied 6-6 and saves tied 2-2. Penn State, however, managed to take a 1-0 edge into halftime with a goal in the 21st minute.
The Scarlet Knights found their momentum after returning from the break. In the 62nd minute, junior forward
Nneka Moneme sent a pass to LaPlant at the top right corner of the box. LaPlant broke through two PSU defenders, striking into the near post to tie the game, 1-1.
Three minutes after entering off the bench, Sayers used her first touch of the game to put Rutgers in front. LaPlant sent a perfect pass up to Sayers, as Sayers used a single touch to send in the goal and lift RU, 2-1.
Penn State would counter moments later with a goal in the 86th minute to send the contest into overtime tied, 2-2.
In the 101st minute, Visco was pulled down in the box on a corner kick, leading to PSU penalty and a RU penalty kick. Ali converted on the PK, moving to 4-for-4 on attempts this season, to lift the Scarlet Knights to victory.
UP NEXT
Rutgers hosts Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 6 for a 2 p.m. contest at Yurcak Field.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers has entered overtime in five contests this season, holding a record of 3-1-1. Dating back to 2016, RU is 13-1-16 in its last 30 OT matches.
- The Scarlet Knights remain undefeated in road matches this season, improving to 2-0-1.
- RU and PSU have entered overtime nine times across the all-time series that dates back to 1994. The teams have played beyond the 90th minute four times as conference foes.
- Since joining the league in 2014, Rutgers holds a 4-3-3 record all-time against Penn State.
- The three goals marks the most Rutgers has scored against Penn State since joining the league.
- Amirah Ali scored her fourth game winner of the year, marking her second PK in OT and third OT goal this season. Ali has eight OT goals in her career, the most in Rutgers history.
- Brittany LaPlant scored her second goal of the season and 11th of her career. She marks the fourth Scarlet Knight with multiple goals this year.
- Jenna Sayers recorded her first goal of the year and second of her career.
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