HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. - Rutgers women's soccer kicked off its 2021 season with a 3-2 victory over Penn State on Friday afternoon at the Iron Peak Sports and Event Facility. Senior forward Amirah Ali recorded two goals for RU, while freshman Sam Kroeger added one in her collegiate debut.

Senior Gabby Provenzano, and freshmen Becci Fluchel, Allison Lowrey and Kroeger each added an assist. Junior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland recorded three saves, as the RU defense only allowed five PSU shots on goal.
 

.@RUWSoccer kicking off the season with a win! pic.twitter.com/l6gPJq6ARb

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) February 19, 2021

 

THE MATCH

Penn State got on the board early with a goal less than two minutes into the contest. However, Rutgers remained composed by holding off the Nittany Lions for the rest of the half. Both keepers recorded two saves each in the opening half, as PSU would hold a 1-0 edge going into the break.
 
It was in the 61st minute that Kroeger found the back of the net to tie the game for RU, scoring off free kick unassisted from over 20 yards out.
 
The Nittany Lions would respond with a goal in the 72th minute to move back in front, 2-1.
 
The lead was not helpd for long though, as Ali netted a goal in 74th minute to tie it up again. Fluchel sent in a long pass from midfield to Provenzano near the top of the box, who then passed to set up Ali. Ali battled a defender to send in the shot and balance the score, 2-2.
 
Ali went on to record her second goal of the day at the 86th minute to cushion the RU lead. Lowrey sent a pass up to Kroeger who used one touch to pass to Ali. Ali sent in the goal to reclaim the lead.
 
The Scarlet Knight defense held strong to deny the Nittany Lions final attempts in the waning seconds, closing out the season opening win, 3-2.
 

KNIGHT NOTES

• The Scarlet Knights pushed its record to 27-5-5 all-time in season openers, as well as 14-9-2 in conference openers. 
• Rutgers defeated Penn State by a score of 3-2 for the second straight meeting. The teams last met in October of 2019, where RU also won 3-2 in double OT.
• Rutgers is receiving votes in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings, while Penn State sits at No. 13. PSU was tabbed No. 1 in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Ali, a 2020-21 candidate for the MAC Hermann Trophy, moved into sixth on the Rutgers career charts with 27 career goals. She sits fifth all-time on the charts with 11 career game winners.
• Nine Scarlet Knights made their debuts for Rutgers, including starts for graduate transfer Adriana Kuryla and freshmen Sam Kroeger, Becci Fluchel, Sara Brocious, and Emma Misal. Rookies Emily Sapienze, Giana Romano, Julianne Leskauskas all clocked their first collegiate minutes.

 

UP NEXT

Rutgers travels for its upcoming games, including stops at Indiana (Feb. 25) and Purdue (Feb. 28).

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