PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 13/8 Rutgers women's soccer opened up Big Ten play with a 2-0 victory over Minnesota on Friday night at Yurcak Field. Junior forwards Amirah Ali and Nneka Moneme each recorded a goal in the victory to push the Scarlet Knights to 7-0-1 overall and 1-0 in league action.
 

.@RUWSoccer gets the win over Minnesota & had some fun along the way. 🤙 pic.twitter.com/qZR9CKd7CE

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) September 21, 2019

 

QUICK STATS
Ali added her sixth goal of the year, while Moneme added her fourth in the win. Senior midfielder Taylor Aylmer added her third assist. Sophomore Meagan McClelland recorded two saves for her sixth shutout of the year.
 
Minnesota's (1-6-2, 0-1) goalkeeper Maddie Nielsen also recorded two saves. Katie Duong led the team with three shots of UM's five total in the match.
 
THE MATCH
Ali gave RU the lead early with a goal in the 15th minute of action. Alymer crossed up to Ali through traffic. Then from about six-yards out, Ali shot into an open net for a 1-0 lead.
 

About five minutes later, Moneme joined in on the scoring. The forward won the shuffle with two Golden Gopher defenders at the six-yard line to find the back of the net and a 2-0 edge for Rutgers.
 
Although Minnesota put the pressure on in the second half, leading in shots, 3-1, McClelland and the defense held strong to seal the team's sixth clean sheet of the year.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers continues its weekend at home by hosting Wisconsin on Sunday. The match is set for a 12 p.m. start live on the Big Ten Network.
 
KNIGHT NOTES

• Dating back to 1993, Rutgers is 14-9-4 in conference openers. The Scarlet Knights are 4-1-1 in Big Ten openers.
• Across the first eight games of the season, Rutgers has matched up with four reigning conference champions in Central Connecticut State (NEC), Hofstra (CAA), Princeton (Ivy League), and Minnesota (Big Ten). RU posted a record of 3-0-1 in those matchups. 
• Since the start of 2006, Rutgers is 114-20-17 at Yurcak Field.
• Meagan McClelland registered her sixth shutout and 14th of her career.
• Amirah Ali leads the team with 14 points, including six goals and two assists. Tonight's goal marked Ali's 22nd of her career.
• Nneka Moneme added her fourth goal of the year and 10th of her career.
• Whether teaming up together, scoring or assisting, Ali and Moneme have had a hand in 36 of RU's 77 goals since their arrival "On the Banks" in 2017.

 
Follow Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.