Starting XI: No. 6 Women's Soccer vs. La Salle

Sep 07 | Women's Soccer

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The 11 things to know before the Scarlet Knights host the Explorers at Yurcak Field on Thu., Sept. 8.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 6 Rutgers women's soccer (6-0-0) continues a five-match homestand at Yurcak Field on Thu., Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. against La Salle (5-1-0). 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).

The Scarlet Knights are seeking their first 7-0-0 start to a season in program history.

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HOW TO FOLLOW: Watch on B1G+ | Live Stats | WRSU | @ruwsoccer on Instagram

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PREVIOUSLY ON...
Sam Kroeger needed just 1:45 into the match to score the game winner and 2:56 to record her first collegiate brace, setting the tone for a convincing 3-0 win for Rutgers over Princeton (3-1-0) on Sunday at Yurcak Field.

The team's second consecutive shutout brings Rutgers' score against opponents last week to 10-0. The win over the Tigers marked a bit of revenge after the Scarlet Knights' perfect 5-0 start in 2021 was disrupted by a home loss to Princeton by a 4-3 score. Kroeger kickstarted the offense as Meagan McClelland recorded her 38th career clean sheet with a season-high five saves to hold her position as the NCAA active leader in shutouts.

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SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS: La Salle is off to a 5-1-0 start, including two wins last week against Colgate (1-0) and Albany (2-1). The Explorers are outscoring opponents 10-4 and share the ball well on offense with 12 assists credited on 10 goals. Junior Kelli McGroaty leads the attack with nine points on three goals and three assists, followed by sophomore Haley Gschrey's six points on two goals and two assists. Sophomore and New Jersey native Michela Auguadro has played all the minutes in goal with a 0.67 goals-against average, a .765 save percentage, and three shutouts.

The match marks the 13th in the all-time series between Rutgers and La Salle with the Scarlet Knights leading the head-to-head with a 10-0-2 record. Rutgers won 5-0 last season behind goals from returners Sam Kroeger, Sara Brocious, and Allison Lowrey, and a three-save shutout from goalkeeper Meagan McClelland.

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HOME SWEET HOME: Rutgers women's soccer is 208-68-29 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, 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.

How did we get out to such a great start?

This. Right. Here. 👇#WeNeverStop /// #RutgersVsEverybody pic.twitter.com/LmYNONf9d4
— RUTGERS WOMEN'S SOCCER (@RUWSoccer) September 4, 2022

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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: Rutgers is one of three teams in the country to begin 6-0-0. RU has been ranked No. 6 in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Poll, up three spots this week. 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, before rising to No. 3 in Week 1 after a 2-0-0 start - matching the highest rank in program history.

Through matches on Sept. 6, Rutgers is among the nation's leaders in goals (5th, 21), assists (6th, 20), and points (4th, 62). The 3.5 goals per match comes in at ninth in the nation.
Allison Lowrey and Sam Kroeger each own two game-winning goals to rank 13th in the NCAA. Lowrey also ranks 20th with 2.0 points per match.
Meagan McClelland's three shutouts are 19th in the country.
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.

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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 five matches. Sixteen of their 21 goals have been assisted, and the total assists (20) are keeping up with the totals goals (21) thanks to one-time passing crediting double assists.

Fourteen different Scarlet Knights have registered a point thus far in 2022, including 11 different goal scorers. Nine goals spanning wins over Buffalo and Temple were all scored by different players, including all seven against Temple on Sept. 1.

With Rutgers ranked in the nation's Top 10 in scoring metrics, the highest individual rank is Allison Lowrey and Sam Kroeger's four goals apiece at No. 28 in the country.

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THE CLEANEST SHEET: With three shutouts in the first six matches, graduate student goalkeeper Meagan McClelland opens the 2022 season as the NCAA Division I career leader in shutouts with 38. The Scarlet Knights' .667 shutout percentage is 22nd in the country this week.

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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B1G TIME: Sam Kroeger is the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Allie Post is the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for their performances during the period ending Sept. 4.

Kroeger, also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, netted three goals during the 2-0 week for the Scarlet Knights, including game-winners in each victory as Rutgers became one of just three teams in the nation to begin the season 6-0-0. The 5-foot-2 forward scored the opener and game-winner in the box off a corner kick in the 10th minute on Thursday to help RU set the tone in a dominating, 7-0 victory over Temple. The West Milford, N.J. native then notched her first collegiate brace, and did so within three minutes in the 3-0 victory over Princeton on Sunday. Kroeger scored 1:45 and 2:56 into the contest for the lightning fast 2-0 lead. Kroeger is tied atop the team with her 10 points on four goals and two assists in 2022.

Post recorded her first collegiate goal and first career multi-point match in the 7-0 victory over Temple on Thursday. Her assist helped RU take a 2-0 lead in the 43rd minute when a low shot was deflected into goal by Emily Mason, marking the second assist of the year for Post. She then netted her first collegiate goal in the 70th minute to put Rutgers up 5-0. Post has played in all six contests during Rutgers' perfect 6-0-0 start to the season, contributing four points on offense.

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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 and Mallory McGuire scored their first collegiate goals against Temple on Thursday, while Hannah Blodget picked up her first point with an assist in the victory. Hailey Gutowski leads the newcomers in scoring with five points on two goals and an assist, while Post has totaled four points on a goal and two helpers.

Stay up to date on the latest news and schedule updates by following Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
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