Women’s Soccer 2021 Season Preview
8/12/2021
After a 2020 season that followed 462 days of offseason and saw competition delayed into spring months, Rutgers women’s soccer is ready to return to fall soccer for its 2021 campaign. A campaign that begins just 105 days since the Scarlet Knights NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Scarlet Knights kick off the year on Thursday, August 19, hosting Fairleigh Dickinson for a 7 p.m. ET contest at Yurcak Field. With a strong core of returners complemented by a highly touted incoming class, RU is primed to continue the pursuit of excellence and elevate the program’s standard.
2020 RECAP
Through much adversity across the 2020-21 academic year, Rutgers came together to pick up where it left off after a strong 2019 campaign – and pushed even further.
The Scarlet Knights advanced to their second straight Big Ten Semifinal and fourth overall, finishing the regular season in the Top 3 of the conference for the third consecutive year. RU earned a bid to its ninth straight NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Second Round for the first time since 2017. The team went on to conclude the year ranked No. 24 in the nation, having appeared in the national rankings for the 13th straight season.
An overall record of 9-3-4 was boosted by a 6-2-3 Big Ten mark and 5-0 undefeated record at home. Along the way, RU produced a program-record seven All-Big Ten honorees, two First Team All-Region selections, a First Team All-American, and a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist.
In the classroom, the Scarlet Knights boosted a 3.602 spring team grade point average. The academic accolades were plentiful with a Scholar All-American and All-Region selection, 17 Academic All-Big Ten selections, and 17 Dean’s List honorees.
2021 ROSTER
Rutgers returns a core group of veterans and fresh talent from the 2020 season, including 21 letterwinners, 12 starters, an All-American, two All-Region and six All-Big Ten selections. The Scarlet Knights also welcome eight newcomers, which includes a Top 10 ranked recruiting class, and an All-American transfer.
The squad, which ranks No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches 2021 Preseason Poll, will be led by captains Amirah Ali, Nicole Binkley, Shea Holland, Meagan McClelland, and Gabby Provenzano.
FORWARDS
Amirah Ali
Gia Girman
Sam Kroeger
Allison Lowrey
Emma Pascarella
Emily Sapienza
Riley Tiernan
MIDFIELDERS
Hayley Baer
Nicole Binkley
Sara Brocious
Kylie Daigle
Becci Fluchel
Giana Romano
Frankie Tagliaferri
BACKS
Kassidy Banks
Maddie Brant
Faith Dobosiewicz
Shea Holland
Abby Jonathan
Adriana Kuryla
Allison Lynch
Emily Mason
Emma Misal
Gabby Provenzano
Courtney Ruedt
GOALKEEPERS
Emma Huntzinger
Cameron Kennett
Meagan McClelland
Grace Walter
SCHEDULE
The schedule features 10 Big Ten matchups and seven nonconference contests, including a total of 11 home regular season matches hosted at Yurcak Field. Admission and parking for matches at Yurcak Field is free. The free parking registration requires a one-time sign up by clicking here.
Rutgers opens the season on Thursday, August 19 against Fairleigh Dickinson at Yurcak Field, kicking off a six-game homestand to start the year. Big Ten action begins on Sunday, Sept. 19 against Penn State at home. The full schedule can be found here.
The Big Ten Tournament will return to its usual format. Four quarterfinals will be hosted by the four highest seeds on Oct. 31, with the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 4 and the final on Sunday, Nov. 7. Location for the semifinals and final will be announced at a later date.
The NCAA First Round is slated to begin the weekend of Nov. 12 through to the College Cup set for Dec. 3-5 in San Jose, California.
