PROVIDENCE, R.I. – No. 3 Rutgers women's soccer (3-0-0) remains undefeated to start 2022 as three different goal scorers contributed to a 3-0 victory at Providence (1-2-0) on Thursday evening at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium.
Gia Girman,
Becci Fluchel, and
Kylie Daigle scored for the Scarlet Knights, with assists coming from
Sam Kroeger and
Sara Brocious.
The Rutgers defense was suffocating throughout, and the possession was outright selfish as the Friars only managed a single shot on target, which Rutgers goalkeeper
Meagan McClelland turned away in the 4th minute. McClelland added to her NCAA active career lead with her 37th shutout.
RU heads home to New Jersey with a unique piece of program history. Rutgers women's soccer played three matches away from home to start a season and won them all for the first time in program history.
The Scarlet Knights found their offensive groove in the 41st minute, when Kroeger played a low, baseline cross that took a deflection, caromed off the post, and found the feet of Girman, who finished for her second goal in as many matches. RU took the 1-0 lead into the break. Girman had just entered the match as a substitute in the 28th minute.
"Sam did a great job getting the ball deep and getting it across," Girman said. "I saw it take a few deflections, and stayed in position so I was able to put it in the back of the net. I want to continue bringing energy wherever I can and to continue scoring goals for this team."
In the 61st, Rutgers added some insurance when Fluchel played a dangerous ball into the attacking third. After a save and a rebound, Brocious collected and played it back to Fluchel for a perfectly placed shot from 20 yards out to the right-side netting for the 2-0 lead.
Daigle made it 3-0 in the 76th when she was brought down in the box, shook off the contact, and buried the penalty into the right side for her first of the season.
Rutgers outshot Providence, 12-6, and 8-1 in shots on target, while taking six corners to the Friars' three. Brocious paced the offense with four shots, three of which were on goal.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers played three matches away from home to start a season and won them all for the first time in program history (since 1984).
- The Scarlet Knights have now started 3-0 in two consecutive seasons and in three out of the last four seasons.
- Gia Girman netted her second career goal and has scored the opening tally in two consecutive matches.
- Becci Fluchel netted career goal No. 5.
- Kylie Daigle picked up her fourth career goal after scoring three as a freshman last season.
- Sara Brocious has at least a point in all three victories this season, adding career assist No. 11 on Thursday at Providence.
- Sam Kroeger has four points over the last two matches, adding career assist No. 9 against the Friars.
- Meagan McClelland recorded career shutout No. 37, maintaining her NCAA active career lead.
- Emily Mason made her 2022 debut on the backline, playing all 90 minutes in the shutout win, after missing the first two contests while playing with the United States Youth National Team at the U20 World Cup.
UP NEXT: The Scarlet Knights host their 2022 home opener on Sun., Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. against Buffalo at Yurcak Field, streaming live on B1G+.
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