PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 5 Rutgers women's soccer punched its ticket to the 2021 NCAA Women's College Cup, advancing out of the quarterfinals at Yurcak Field on Friday night .RU played to its second consecutive double-overtime draw, this one by a score of 2-2 with No. 7 Arkansas. The Scarlet Knights won the shootout over the Razorbacks, 4-2, to clinch the program's second appearance in the Final Four.
"I didnt think we'd feel something like what we felt when we won the conference title, but the feeling last night of moving on the the College Cup in California was the most incredible feeling to experience with our team and families. I couldn't be more proud of this team and how much history we've fought to make for our school and for Rutgers women's soccer. To be able to clinch our spot in the College Cup in our final game on Yurcak at home in front of the greatest fans in the world means the absolute most to us," said senior captain Nicole Binkley.
"It is such an unreal feeling to be going to the College Cup. Being able to play this tournament home meant everything to us, we couldn't do it without the endless support from our Rutgers family. We are super excited now to head to California and represent Jersey in the Final Four," said senior captain Shea Holland.
Freshman
Riley Tiernan led the way with a goal and an assist for the Scarlet Knights. Senior
Amirah Ali recorded a goal as well, while classmate
Frankie Tagliaferri and sophomores
Becci Fluchel and
Sara Brocious added an assist each
In net, senior
Meagan McClelland made seven saves in the draw, while making a PK and saving a PK for Rutgers in the shootout.
Tiernan gave RU its earliest goal of the season scoring just two minutes into the match. Brocious passed to Tagliaferri at the top center of the box. Tagliaferri used one touch to set up Tiernan, who found the back of the net for a 1-0 RU lead.
Although the Razorbacks countered with goals in the eighth and 15th minutes, the Scarlet Knights never let up.
With two minutes to go in the first half, Ali came in clutch for RU with the equalizer. Fluchel passed to Tiernan, who sent the ball to Ali through traffic. Ali went one-on-one with the keeper to score and knot the game at 2-2.
Top-seed Rutgers and No. 2 seed Arkansas traded shots throughout the first and second overtime periods with RU holding a 4-2 edge in the first and 3-2 in the second. The Scarlet Knights found great chances in the 98
th and 99
th minute, however, the game would ultimately reach a penalty shootout.
Coming off a Third Round match where McClelland saved three straight PKs, the senior goalkeeper carried that momentum, saving the Razorback's first attempt. Fluchel, Ali, McClelland, and Tiernan each made their attempts to advance RU to the College Cup for the second time in program history and first since 2015.
Rutgers will matchup with Florida State on Friday, Dec. 3 at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, California. More information on tickets and the College Cup can be found at
NCAA.com.
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