PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 16/15 Rutgers women's soccer picked up its fourth straight victory with a 5-0 win over La Salle on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field. Eight different Scarlet Knights contributed to scoring, as RU has now posted five or more goals in four straight matches. The team held the Explorers to just three shots overall in the game to record its third clean sheet of the season.
"We have so many weapons and we really play off each other very well. We have good chemistry and we always find the last pass that's going to make us more successful. We don't try and force shots, we find each other and I just feel like we're playing really well together," said senior captain Amirah Ali.
Senior
Frankie Tagliaferri and sophomore
Sara Brocious led the team with a goal and an assist each. Tagliaferri owns a team-high 15 points (5g, 5a) and Brocious stands at second with eight points (3g, 2a) on the season.
Sophomore Sam Kroger added her fourth goal of the year, while senior
Amirah Ali notched her second. Sophomore
Allison Lowrey joined in with her first goal of the year and third of her career.
"We've just been getting better and better. We're always looking for the net, and we're not going to stop. We're going to put the pedal down to the metal until the end. It's huge that any player can make and create a chance to find the net. It's definitely good to keep the ball rolling with lots of goals, a lot of numbers on the board. It'll prepare us well as we finish out nonconference and for our Big Ten games," said Lowrey.
Freshman
Riley Tiernan added an assist for the third straight game, tying for a team-high five assist on the year. Sophomores
Emma Misal and
Emily Sapienza added assists as well in the win. Overall, a total of 14 different Scarlet Knights have added at least a goal or assist in 2021. RU's five or more goals in four straight matches is the longest stretch doing so in program history.
"Everyone wants to get a ball in the back of the net and everyone wants everyone to get a ball in the back of the net. Our chemistry is awesome and every single player, whether it's coming off the bench or starting, has an impact in the game. We all just want to get a goal, or an assist, anything. We all want to get on the scoresheet. Our chemistry is awesome and even if you don't get that ball in the back of the net, you're part of it. Everyone's a part of it," said Sapienza.
Defensively, Rutgers held La Salle to three shots overall in the match. Goalkeeper
Meagan McClelland recorded two saves and fellow goalkeeper Cammie Kennett registered another for RU's third shutout of the season. RU has kept its opponents to single-digit shots overall for 21 straight matches dating back to 2019.
"We want more. We want more clean sheets. We want more goals. Five isn't enough, we want seven, we want eight. These wins are going to motivate us and I can't wait to see what the rest of season brings," said Sapienza.
"For nonconference, We definitely have a goal for ourselves to continue to get shutouts. We had one step up with the one game, but we want to continue to get shutouts and as much goals as we can to make our presence known. And I think that's going to definitely carry on with our confidence to in conference. We're very excited for it," said Ali.
Up next, Rutgers remains home to host in-state opponent Princeton on Thursday, Sept. 9. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET at Yurcak Field.
Follow Rutgers women's soccer on
Twitter,
Instagram, and
Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for
Apple or
Android today.
- RU -
