PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 6
Rutgers women's soccer (7-0-0) continued its torrid start to the 2022 season by erasing a 1-0 deficit to La Salle (5-2-0) with three unanswered goals to claim a 3-1 victory at Yurcak Field on Thursday evening.
These Scarlet Knights become one of just two teams in program history to begin a campaign 7-0-0, joining the 2015 College Cup team that began 8-0-0.
La Salle struck first on Thursday, drawing a penalty in the 8th minute as Alyssa Gargiulo converted for the 1-0 lead. Rutgers responded with three unanswered goals from
Allison Lowrey, a La Salle own goal, and some final insurance from
Kylie Daigle.
Lowrey leveled the score in the 17th with her team-leading fifth goal of the year after
Becci Fluchel played a brilliant pass to the top of the box, where Lowrey settled with the inside of her foot to set up a quick shot to the right-side netting to equalize at 1-1.
Just two minutes and nine seconds later,
Allison Lynch ran on to a ball served deep by
Sara Brocious into the Explorers' box. Lynch selflessly gave up the shot and attempted to pass to a wide-open Lowrey, but a La Salle defender broke up the pass and watched it deflect into the net for an own goal. The score remained 2-1 in Rutgers' favor at half.
Daigle needed just over two minutes into the second half to add some insurance against a scrappy Explorers side, grabbing her third goal of the season in the 48th. The finish was just as precise as the passing that led to the opportunity.
Riley Tiernan played the ball back to the top of the box, where Brocious knocked a one-timer into attacking space for Daigle. The sophomore striker settled and knocked the shot off the near post and into goal for the 3-1 advantage.
Rutgers outshot La Salle, 24-6, while holding the Explorers to two shots on goal, including the penalty kick. Rutgers took six corners compared to La Salle's three, while La Salle keeper Michela Auguadro made eight saves.
KNIGHT NOTES
- The 7-0-0 start is the second in Rutgers women's history, joining the 2015 team's 8-0-0 start on the way to the College Cup that year.
- Rutgers comes from behind to win for the second time this season.
- The Rutgers defense has held all seven opponents to five shots on goal or less, and five opponents to three or less shots on target.
- Career goal marks: Lowrey (13), Daigle (6)
- Career assist marks: Fluchel (8), Tiernan (17), Brocious (13)
- Fluchel has already matched her career-best three assists in a season seven matches into the season.
- Rutgers improves to 11-0-2 against La Salle.
UP NEXT: The Scarlet Knights remain home to host LSU on Sun., Sept. 11 at 12 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
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