No. 8 Women’s Soccer Celebrates Senior Day With a Shutout Win Over Wisconsin

Sunday, October 16

Piscataway, NJ

1 PM ET

Rutgers University

13-1-2, 5-1-2

Wisconsin

10-4-2, 5-3-0

Wisconsin

Rutgers

No. 8 Women’s Soccer Celebrates Senior Day With a Shutout Win Over Wisconsin

Oct 16 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Game Book Photo Gallery

Becci Fluchel and Sara Brocious scored in support of Meagan McClelland’s 43rd career shutout

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 8 Rutgers women's soccer (13-1-2, 5-1-2) sent its seniors off in style in a 2-0 victory over Wisconsin (10-4-2, 5-3-0) on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field.

Becci Fluchel scored a penalty goal as the game-winner in the 14th minute, Sara Brocious scored an insurance goal in the 50th as Wisconsin was playing down a woman due to a red card in the 40th minute, and Meagan McClelland made five saves in her eighth shutout of the season and 43rd of her career.

Meagan McClelland joined the B1G+ crew to talk about the 2-0 Senior Day win and the @NCAASoccer record for minutes played.#WeNeverStop /// #ForeverRutgers pic.twitter.com/8kaI3U6kM1
— RUTGERS WOMEN'S SOCCER (@RUWSoccer) October 16, 2022

The victory vaulted Rutgers over Wisconsin for third place in the Big Ten with two match days remaining, trailing Northwestern and Michigan State at the top of the table.

"We locked in on not giving up goals," said Fluchel, a defensive-minded midfielder. "We've given up way more than we would have liked this season, so it's definitely a focus for us as we end the regular season and looking forward. It starts with denying service and denying shots."

McClelland was tested on her Senior Day, making five stops in the clean sheet. Already the NCAA active career leader in shutouts, she is also gunning for Casey Murphy's program record of 45 shutouts.

Fluchel's penalty goal, her second PK and third goal of the year, was set up by Sam Kroeger drawing a foul in the Wisconsin box in the 14th minute. Fluchel stepped to the spot and elevated a shot to the right side for the 1-0 lead.

Brocious nearly found the net earlier, but was brought down from behind on a breakaway attempt in the 40th minute, bringing out the red card for the Badger defender for disrupting a scoring chance with a foul. Wisconsin would play the final 50 minutes down a woman.

Rutgers took the 2-0 lead in the 50th when a series of passes from Kylie Daigle to Allison Lowrey to Brocious set up a routine finish in front of net for Brocious' fourth goal of the season.

Take a look at Sara Brocious' goal on the pass from Allison Lowrey! pic.twitter.com/UAw0kofhMw
— RUTGERS WOMEN'S SOCCER (@RUWSoccer) October 16, 2022

RU outshot Wisconsin, 15-6, and held the 7-5 advantage on shots on target. McClelland and her counterpart, Erin McKinney, each made five saves. Senior back Allison Lynch, along with Fluchel, Brocious, Emily Mason, and Kassidy Banks, all put in 90-minute efforts in the shutout win to close out the 2022 regular season home schedule.

KNIGHT NOTES

Meagan McClelland recorded shutout No. 43 of her career, the NCAA active career lead, and two away from tying Casey Murphy's program record for career shutouts.
Rutgers has held all 16 opponents to six shots on goal or less.
Career goal marks: Fluchel (7), Brocious (9)
Career assist marks: Lowrey (11), Daigle (12)
Allison Lowrey leads the team in points with 18 on seven goals and four assists this season.
Kylie Daigle has contributed a point in four consecutive matches, and in 10 of Rutgers' 13 wins this season.
Rutgers is now 2-6-2 against Wisconsin all-time, snapping a three-match Badger winning streak. It was the first win over Wisconsin since the 2017 season.

UP NEXT: The Scarlet Knights play the final two matches of the regular season on the road at Michigan on Thu., Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. and at No. 15 Michigan State on Sun., Oct. 23 at 2 p.m.

Gallery: (10-16-2022) WSOC Senior Day 2022

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-RU-