PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Hosting the Big Ten Tournament for the first time, No. 3 Rutgers field hockey earned a significant victory to open quarterfinal action, defeating Indiana 3-1. The win gave the Scarlet Knights a new program record with 16 wins on the season, marked RU's first ever Big Ten Tournament victory, and provided head coach
Meredith Civico with her 100th career victory.Â
Rutgers trailed early, as Indiana scored first, but battled back with the next three goals. Rutgers' goalscoring came from
Milena Redlingshoefer,
Bridy Molyneaux and
Lucy Bannatyne.Â
Rutgers had a 12-6 advantage in shots and 4-2 in corners.
Gianna Glatz made three saves in the victory. Rutgers improved to 14-1 at home over the past two seasons.
"This is really special," head coach
Meredith Civico said. "It is a testament to this group of players, all the players that came before them and what we have been able to build here at Rutgers. I'm so proud of this group. We had to settle in, but the team wasn't shaken early. The team was confident in what we needed to do and how we needed to play. We started possessing the ball well, passing and connecting with each other. I was happy with how we finished out the game. We have to rest and then prepare for what's next."
In the first quarter, Glatz made a trio of early saves as IU's first penalty corner of the day. However, the Hoosiers were the first team to get on the board. The initial shot was sent in from the top of the arc, where the Hoosier player re-directed it in.
In the second quarter, Rutgers pressured the IU goal and was able to earn a penalty stroke.
Milena Redlingshoefer stepped to the dot and fired it past the goalkeeper to even the score.
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The game-winning goal came from a special play with
Bridy Molyneaux and
Rachel Houston teaming up. The two took on the defense, and Houston launched a backhand strike towards the back post, where Molyneaux redriected it in to put RU ahead for good.Â
In the waning seconds, IU pulled their goalkeeper.
Katie Larmour sent a ball in where
Lucy Bannatyne score to ice the win.Â
Rutgers moves on to play in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the first time. The Scarlet Knights will face 3-seed Penn State at 4:30 pm, broadcast nationally by Big Ten Network.
"This is a moment of incredible pride," Civico said upon reaching 100 career wins. "I love Rutgers. I love this program. It means so much to me and the team. To have so many people - players, alumns, people that work at Rutgers, other coaches out here support at the game wanting this for me and the team, that's the ultimate moment. That's why I coach and I love what I do. I'm really grateful."
The first day of Rutgers' as tournament hosts for the first time was a tremendous success. Over 1300 fans packed the complex for three intensely competitive games.Â
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Gallery: (11-4-2021) Field Hockey Defeats Indiana (Big Ten Quarters)
