ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – No. 6 Rutgers women's soccer (1-0) shut out New Mexico (0-1) by a 1-0 score in the 2022 season opener on Thursday evening at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Scarlet Knights won their seventh consecutive season opener and remained unbeaten in season openers for 21-straight years dating back to 2001.
Rutgers junior forward
Allison Lowrey opened the season's scoring in the 22nd minute as the Scarlet Knights mounted a swift counter from the midfield line. Sophomore forward
Riley Tiernan received the pass from the midfield circle, touching just ahead to junior midfielder
Sara Brocious, who saw the slot and fed Lowrey into space. Lowrey took one clean touch before burying the shot into the left side of the net.
The opening tally came just one minute after New Mexico broke an offensive deadlock over the first 20 minutes. Graduate student goalkeeper
Meagan McClelland was called into action with a kick save to keep the contest scoreless. It was the first of three saves for the Rutgers keeper on the way to career shutout No. 37, which is the NCAA active career lead heading into the 2022 campaign.
Rutgers turned up the intensity on both ends of the pitch in the second half, allowing five total shots while placing four of their eight second-half shots on net, albeit without scoring the insurance goal.
RU outshot the Lobos, 17-14. Lowrey and junior midfielder
Sam Kroeger each fired two shots on goal.
KNIGHT NOTES
- McClelland entered the season opener as the NCAA active career leader in shutouts with 36 before registering her 37th at New Mexico.
- Rutgers has won seven consecutive season openers and remain unbeaten in season openers in 21 consecutive years since 2002. It was Rutgers' first season opener on the road since 2016.
- Lowrey scored career goal No. 9.
- Tiernan, who led the team in assists with 13 as a freshman one year ago, upped her young career helper total to 14. Brocious picked up career assist No. 10.
- Freshman Allie Post made her collegiate debut, coming on the pitch in the 36th minute and contributing two shots during her nine-plus minutes in the opening half.
- Graduate student Hailey Gutowski made her Rutgers debut in the second half and placed one of her two shots on target. The Temple transfer comes to Piscataway with 14 goals and seven assists.
- The Scarlet Knights are opening a season with consecutive matches away from Piscataway for the first time since 2006 (a pair of road wins at James Madison and Richmond).
UP NEXT: The Scarlet Knights remain in Albuquerque to take on UNLV on Sun., Aug. 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. MT) at the UNM Soccer Complex.
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