Box Score PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior midfielder
Sara Brocious blasted in a world-class goal in the 88th minute to push No. 4 Rutgers women's soccer (10-1-0, 2-1-0) to a 1-0 victory over Maryland (2-3-5, 1-2-0) on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field.
Following 87-plus minutes of scoreless soccer in a tight Big Ten battle, Rutgers'
Allison Lowrey elevated and headed a ball into wide-open space inside the Maryland 18-yard box. Brocious ran on and struck her shot into the upper-right 90 of the net for the 1-0 lead that would end up holding over the final 2:12.
The slim margin held up in large part to the Rutgers defense, which allowed just two shots on target and fairly routine saves left for
Meagan McClelland. It was the seventh time in 11 matches this season the Rutgers defense allowed three or fewer shots on target in a match.
Brocious' bomb was Rutgers' third shot on goal of the game, joining Lowrey and
Kylie Daigle's attempts from earlier. Lowrey's poke in the 48th minute required a leaping save by Maryland keeper Emory Wegener to keep the game scoreless.
Rutgers outshot Maryland, 9-3, overall, and just 3-2 in shots on goal. Rutgers took five corner kicks compared to the Terps' four.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers improves to 7-0 at Yurcak Field this season, moving to 212-68-29 all-time on home grass.
- Rutgers has held all 11 opponents to six shots on goal or less, including seven to three shots on target or less.
- Graduate student goalkeeper Meagan McClelland recorded shutout No. 40, extending her NCAA active career lead in the clean sheet category.
- Sara Brocious' game-winner was the latest in a game this season.
- Sara Brocious scored her third goal of the season, second in Big Ten play this year, and career goal No. 8.
- Allison Lowrey's assist moved her into the team-lead with 15 points on six goals and three assists. It was assist No. 10 on her career.
- Rutgers moves to 7-7-2 all-time against Maryland in the series dating back to 1989. Rutgers is 6-2-1 against the Terps as Big Ten opponents since 2014.
UP NEXT: The Scarlet Knights head back out on the road to face Northwestern on Thurs., Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) and Purdue on Sun., Oct. 2 at 12 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
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