Starting XI: No. 3 Women's Soccer vs. Buffalo

Aug 27 | Women's Soccer

Watch on B1G+Listen on WRSU 88.7 FM Live Stats 2022 Record Book

The 11 things to know before the Scarlet Knights host the Bulls in the 2022 home opener at Yurcak Field

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 3 Rutgers women's soccer (3-0-0) makes its 2022 home debut at Yurcak Field on Sun., Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. against Buffalo (2-0-0). Attendance is free and fans are required to register for free parking in the Blue Lot outside Yurcak Field (one-time registration for the 2022 season).

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PREVIOUSLY ON...
The Scarlet Knights remained 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.

🗣️🎙️ Becci Fluchel & Kylie Daigle.

Goal scorers.
Road warriors.
Aspiring podcasters?#WeNeverStop /// #ForeverRutgers pic.twitter.com/6jXOKeaUD2
— RUTGERS WOMEN'S SOCCER (@RUWSoccer) August 26, 2022

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SCOUTING THE BULLS: Buffalo is also perfect to start its 2022 with a 2-0-0 record coming via matching 4-1 home victories against Binghamton and Niagara. Jasmine Guerber and Arianna Zumpano both have scored three goals already this season. The Bulls have also gotten goals this season from seniors Leah Wengender and Payton Robertson. Buffalo currently ranks first in the nation assists per game (6.0), fourth in points per game (14.0), sixth in scoring offense (4.0), seventh in assists (6.0), 14^th in total points (28) and 23^rd in total goals (8). Guerber and Zumpnao rank eighth in total goals (3) and fifth in goals per game (1.5), and Guerber's two game-winning goals is second-best in the nation, and she also ranks 11^th in total points (7). Zumpano ranks 22^nd with six total points while freshman Ellie Simmons ranks fourth with three total assists.

This marks the second meeting against Buffalo all-time and first since 2000, when the Scarlet Knights won 2-1 at the Syracuse Orange Classic.

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HOME SWEET HOME: Rutgers women's soccer is 205-68-29 all-time at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights matched the 2015 program record last season with 13 home wins, including two in the Big Ten Tournament and four in the NCAA Tournament on the way to the NCAA Women's College Cup. The RU program has had a winning record at home in each season since 1998.

Before each and every home contest – beginning with the home opener on Sun., Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. against Buffalo – a raucous Rutgers tailgate takes place in the parking lot three hours before kickoff. Then 90 minutes before kickoff, fans are encouraged to welcome the Scarlet Knights to Yurcak Field at the Scarlet Walk located outside the ticket booth.

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ROAD WARRIORS: The two victories at the Lobo Invitational over New Mexico and UNLV, and the win at Providence marked the first time in program history that Rutgers played three matches away from home to start a season and won them all. The Aug. 25 road date at Providence was the first time RU played three matches away from home to start a season since 2001.

"To reach our goals, we have to win at home and we have to win on the road," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "We want to challenge our comfort zone early, and we like the added benefit of bonding as a team and building team chemistry with some early time on the road together."

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RUTGERS RANKED: RU has been ranked No. 3 in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Poll, matching the highest national rank in program history (the final poll after the NCAA Women's College Cup in 2021). The Scarlet Knights began at No. 6 in the preseason poll, marking 11 of the last 13 seasons Rutgers received votes in the national preseason vote.

The Scarlet Knights were ranked No. 25 one year ago in the 2021 preseason poll before winning a Big Ten title. Rutgers is the top ranked Big Ten program in the national poll, followed by No. 10 Penn State, No. 20 Ohio State, and No. 24 Wisconsin. Michigan is also receiving votes this week.
The Big Ten coaches voted Rutgers to repeat as conference champions, coming in a first-place tie with Penn State in the annual preseason poll. The poll marks the first time in Rutgers Athletics history a Scarlet Knight team has been picked No. 1, and it also marks the first time in conference history the women's soccer preseason poll resulted in a tie for the top spot.
Through matches on Aug. 25, Rutgers has the No. 18 ranked scoring offense at 3.0 goals per game, while leading the Big Ten in goals (9), assists (10), and points (28).
Sophomore forward Riley Tiernan comes in at fourth in the nation with her three assists.
Junior forward Allison Lowrey's six points are ranked 22nd in the country and tops in the Big Ten.

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THE CLEANEST SHEET: With two shutouts in the first three matches, graduate student goalkeeper Meagan McClelland opens the 2022 season as the NCAA Division I career leader in shutouts with 37. The Scarlet Knights' two shutouts rank sixth in the country in the early going.

The Kearny keeper recorded 13 shutouts and 83 saves on the year in 2021, including five clean sheets against league opponents in the run to the conference title. She maintained a 0.67 GAA in net, helping RU extend its streak to eight straight seasons registering a GAA of 0.77 or less.

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FAMILY STYLE: The Scarlet Knights' early offense has been powered by a selfless style of passing and an unpredictable source of origin through three matches. Seven of their nine goals have been assisted, and the total assists (10) outnumber the totals goals (9) thanks to one-time passing crediting double assists.

Nine different Scarlet Knights have registered a point thus far in 2022, including seven different goal scorers. Rutgers' last seven goals have been scored by different players stretching over the victory against UNLV and Providence.

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B1G TIME OFFENSE: Junior forward Allison Lowrey is the reigning Big Ten Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after a six-point performance on two goals and two assists during the 2-0 opening week. It is Lowrey's first weekly honor from the Big Ten, and the 12th offensive weekly award from the conference since joining the league in 2014. Lowrey leads the Big Ten and is ranked eighth in the nation with her six points.

She scored the game-winner in the 1-0 victory at Mountain West favorites New Mexico to open the season on Thursday. She then assisted the first two goals against UNLV to give Rutgers a 2-0 lead in the opening 19 minutes before scoring another in the 5-1 victory on Sunday. Lowrey's four points against UNLV set a new career high for the junior striker, and she did it in just 42 minutes of action. The UNLV contest was also her second career match with multiple assists. Her 3.0 points per match ranks 14th across the nation, while her two goals come in at 15th in the nation.

No surprises here ... @RUWSoccer's Allison Lowrey is the @B1GSoccer Offensive Player of the Week!

With 6 points on 2 goals and 2 assists, she helped the Scarlet Knights take a 2-0 start to the season. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z77y2vWSZ8
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) August 24, 2022

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GUESS WHO'S BACK?: Rutgers returns nine starters (15 or more starts) and 17 letterwinners from the 2021 College Cup squad.

Returning "On the Banks" this fall are Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Region First Team performer Riley Tiernan (an NCAA Division I Preseason Player to Watch) and All-Region goalkeeper Meagan McClelland. Junior midfielder Becci Fluchel (All-Big Ten Second Team) also returns with All-Conference honors from last fall.

Graduate student back Adriana Kuryla celebrated her birthday in the season-opening win at New Mexico by playing all 90 minutes in the shut out after playing in just two matches last season due to injuries.

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NEW KIDS "ON THE BANKS": Coach Mike O'Neill signed five freshmen to the 2022 roster (Hannah Blodget, Olivia Bodmer, Mallory McGuire, Allie Post, and Naila Schoefberger) and welcomed five transfers to the mix (Niamh Cashin - Rider, Hailey Gutowski - Temple, Jessica Schildkraut - Columbia, Emily Smith - American, and Naya Vialva - La Salle).

Allie Post picked up her first collegiate point on an assist on the fifth goal in Rutgers' 5-1 win over UNLV on Aug. 21, which was scored by graduate transfer Hailey Gutowski.

Follow Rutgers men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RUMensSoccer). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter(@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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