PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior Nneka Moneme registered a hat trick to help lift RV/19 Rutgers women's soccer to a 5-0 shutout of Fordham on Sunday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights improved to 2-0 on the season, as senior Tiernny Wiltshire and junior Amirah Ali also joined in on the scoring. Sophomore Meagan McClelland registered her first shutout of the year and ninth of her career in the win. 
 
QUICK STATS
A career-high of three goals by Moneme catapulted Rutgers to victory. Ali added her second penalty kick in as many games, while also contributing two assists for Moneme. Wiltshire posted a goal for RU on an assist from classmate Taylor Aylmer. Freshman Regan Berg provided an assist of her own in the win.
 
Overall, Rutgers (2-0) outshot Fordham (0-2) by a margin of 27-1. The Rams' goalkeeper recorded seven saves on the day.
 
THE MATCH
The duo of Moneme and Ali broke open the scoring in the 28th minute of the game. Inside the box, Ali sent a cross parallel to the goal, Moneme shot from six yards out to score into the near post.
 

Nneka + Amirah = Dynamic Duo! Nneka Moneme puts it away with an assist from Amirah Ali to give #RFutbol a 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/zyF60SIXwG

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) August 25, 2019

 
Four minutes later, Wiltshire scored on a deflected pass from Aylmer to extend the Scarlet Knights' lead to 2-0.
 

Make it 2-0 #RFutbol! Tiernny Wiltshire joins in on the scoring with help from Taylor Aylmer! pic.twitter.com/QdFQNteDWa

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) August 25, 2019

 
Returning from the break, the duo of Moneme and Ali kept the momentum rolling, teaming up again this time for a goal in the 49th minute. Ali used a back heel pass to set up Moneme, who would win a one-on-one battle with Fordham's keeper.
 

The Dymanic Duo is at it again! Nneka Moneme wins a 1-on-1 battle with the keeper off a back heel pass from Amirah Ali! #RFutbol with a 3-0 lead pic.twitter.com/7iHnwTxwvd

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) August 25, 2019

 
After Ali converted on her second successful PK of the year to make it 4-0, Moneme completed her hat trick, sneaking a shot passed the keeper to seal the 5-0 RU win.
 

Amirah Ali adds a PK for the second straight game, lifting #RFutbol to 4-0! pic.twitter.com/8mtyFd6MMO

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) August 25, 2019

🎩Have yourself a day, Nneka! Nneka Moneme makes it a hat trick and pushes #RFutbol's lead to 5-0! pic.twitter.com/rKXixhAyNB

— RutgersWomensSoccer (@RUWSoccer) August 25, 2019

 
KNIGHT NOTES

• Nneka Moneme scored a career-high three goals, marking RU's first hat trick since Jonelle Filigno completed the feat in 2011 also against Fordham.
• Amirah Ali registered a career-high two assists in the win. With a PK too, Ali matched her career-high of four total points. 
• Three different Scarlet Knights registered at least one goal, while three different players added at least one helper.
• Since the start of the 2006 season, RU is now 111-20-17 at Yurcak Field.
• Since 2008, Rutgers holds a 68-3-3 mark with a lead at half.
• Rutgers is 55-7-6 in nonconference home games since 2007.

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