Women’s Soccer 2023 Season Primer
Aug 16 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 2023 Rutgers women's soccer season comes with a new start, a fresh 0-0-0 record, and a blank slate on which to write the next great chapter “On the Banks.” Amid all the newness, however, is a stark familiarity. Ten of 11 primary starters return. Eleven point scorers are back representing 116 of last season's 125, and on defense, the ‘No Service, No Shots, No Goals’ mantra still rings true.
Following the historic 2021 Big Ten championship and NCAA College Cup run, the 2022 squad adopted the 'We Never Stop' motto, which shows no signs of stopping in 2023. Despite a program-best 9-0-0 start to the season, 13 victories, and an 11th consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament, the ending of the 2022 campaign did not meet the program's expectations and standards. ‘We Never Stop’ is an equal opportunity rallying cry, echoed during good times and challenging times alike. This year, its meaning is derived from committing to the fundamentals, relying on the family-like bonds throughout the team, and never stopping the pursuit of one-percent better every day.
We've taken that experience and that has been our motivation for the past seven months. We weren't happy with the way that it ended. There has to be intentional meaning in everything that we do. It's just not soccer; it's everything - the education, the competition, the people. It's putting your heart on the table and asking everybody who's involved in the program to be invested in what we're doing and in our core values.Head Coach Mike O'Neill
The Scarlet Knights' captain trio have already noticed the renewed commitment from the deep returning corps, which has instantly bled over to an equally large freshman class. Rutgers welcomes 11 first-years to the program in 2023, joining graduate transfer Gia Vicari, a three-time All-Big East forward from three-time defending Big East champion Georgetown. That transference of dedication will be the key to setting a winning tone early in the season.
We came in for captain's preseason on July 10th and everyone was already fit. So we already felt a little bit ahead of everything. Then we started to play together and got this rhythm and some chemistry before preseason even started. We have a lot of new faces that are fitting in really well. It seems the freshman class came in and gave a push to all the returners, which is I think exactly what we needed.Graduate back & captain Allison Lynch
The College Cup is always an expectation and standard here. I know a lot of us can see we have that potential. But we don't want to just get to the Final Four. We want to win the whole thing. The goal behind Rutgers women's soccer right now is to just be better. So we stopped talking about the last College Cup team. We are the team - right now - that is going to make it next.Senior back & captain Emma Misal
EXPERIENCE & AMBITION
The Scarlet Knights return a total of 18 players from the 2022 roster, including 16 with playing time on the books. Twelve returners started at least one match last season, with 10 starting 12 or more matches.
All but three goals from the 42 netted in '22, and all but three assists, are accounted for in the returning class this fall. The Scarlet Knights also bring some hardware forward from the 2022 season, with returning All-America Third Team selection Emily Mason back on defense. Mason was one of four United Soccer Coaches All-Region picks, joining Riley Tiernan (Second Team), Sara Brocious (Third Team), and Sam Kroeger (Third Team). Those four, along with Allison Lowrey and Emma Misal, all earned All-Big Ten awards last fall, with Mason earning First Team honors. Gia Vicari is also a returning All-Region performer after earning Second Team accolades on Georgetown last season.
Among the newcomers are a New Jersey Player of the Year, a group of High School All-Americans, and multiple national and state champions from the club and high school ranks. The 11 freshmen, including nine from New Jersey, are Brianna Azevedo, Ashley Baran, Ava Brass, Audrey Cain, Elliot Forney, Gabriela Gil, Alyssa Martinez, Reilly McGlinn, Shannon Reiser, Olivia Russomanno, and Tehya Scheuten.
The first-years came in ready to learn and adjust, and obviously we're teaching them things, but they work so hard. They've seamlessly transitioned into our team and you never feel like you have to drag anyone along. They're pushing the standard on work-ethic and commitment to our brand of soccer. We're excited to see them make an impact.Senior midfielder & captain Becci Fluchel
FORWARDS
Ashley Baran
Elliot Forney
Gia Girman
Sam Kroeger
Allison Lowrey
Olivia Russomanno
Alyssa Martinez
Reilly McGlinn
Riley Tiernan
Gia Vicari
MIDFIELDERS
Brianna Azevedo
Sara Brocious
Kylie Daigle
Becci Fluchel
Gabriela Gil
Allie Post
Tehya Scheuten
Jessica Schildkraut
Giana Romano
BACKS
Kassidy Banks
Ava Brass
Audrey Cain
Allison Lynch
Emily Mason
Emma Misal
Shannon Reiser
Naila Schoefberger
GOALKEEPERS
Olivia Bodmer
Cameron Kennett
Grace Walter
THE SLATE
Rutgers will prepare for the Big Ten Conference gauntlet with a tough non-conference schedule that includes three 2022 conference champions and four NCAA Tournament teams. The Scarlet Knights will take on CAA champions, Hofstra, on Aug. 20, NEC champions, FDU, on Aug. 28, and three-time defending Big East champions, Georgetown, on Sept. 4 - all at home at Yurcak Field. RU will also visit NCAA Tournament participants NC State on the road Aug. 24.
The Big Ten opponents include Penn State, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, and Northwestern at home and Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Maryland, and Ohio State away. The Nebraska (Sept. 28), Michigan (Oct. 12), and Ohio State (Oct. 19) matches will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network, with the remainder of the conference schedule and home non-conference slate streamed live and on demand on B1G+.
The Big Ten Tournament awaits the conference's top eight teams from Oct. 26 through Nov. 5. The NCAA Tournament begins at campus sites on Nov. 10-12, concluding at the NCAA College Cup on Dec. 1 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
PRESEASON HONORS
The nation and conference have taken notice to the potential Rutgers possesses on the pitch. Midfielders Sara Brocious and Becci Fluchel, along with junior forward Riley Tiernan, have been named Big Ten Players to Watch ahead of the 2023 season.
Tiernan also earned a mention on the United Soccer Coaches National Players to Watch list for forwards for the second consecutive season. Tiernan was one of three Big Ten players on the national watch list, joining Rebecca Cooke from Penn State and Sarah Weber from Nebraska.
Junior back Emily Mason is also on the United Soccer Coaches National Players to Watch list for defenders, one of two from the Big Ten.
Mason & Vicari were both named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Third Team.
As a team, the Scarlet Knights have been voted to finish third in the Big Ten in the annual conference coaches' preseason poll. Rutgers finished in a fourth-place tie after the 2022 Big Ten season with a 5-3-2 mark, part of a 13-5-2 campaign that saw the Scarlet Knights qualify for an 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament.
Champions are built in August??#WeNeverStop /// #ForeverRutgers pic.twitter.com/z0nbP11k3d
— RUTGERS WOMEN’S SOCCER (@RUWSoccer) August 11, 2023
Respect
— RUTGERS WOMEN’S SOCCER (@RUWSoccer) August 9, 2023
Unity
Trust
Growth
Exceed
Relentless
Selflessness#WeNeverStop?? #ForeverRutgers pic.twitter.com/WBdHHwgi6k
