PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's soccer (1-0-0) started 2023 on a winning note with a 2-0 shutout of Holy Cross (0-1-0) on Opening Night at Yurcak Field Thursday.
Riley Tiernan's early marker in just the sixth minute of play stood up as the game-winner thanks to the defense locking down the Crusaders, who managed just two shots – both on net and both saved by debuting redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Bodmer in her first shutout.
In the 14th,
Allison Lowrey drew a foul in the box after some crisp, short passing, and converted the ensuing penalty for the insurance goal. It marks the second consecutive season Lowrey scored in the opener for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers has won eight consecutive season openers and remain unbeaten in season openers in 22 consecutive years since 2002.
"It's always difficult attacking a team that sits in," said head coach
Mike O'Neill. "There's not a lot of space to play, so sometimes you force it and it takes away confidence. We need to stick to the way we play, and I felt at times, we did that and created chances. Now we just need to get a little better at the execution."
The Scarlet Knights put five shots on net in the second half, which were all turned away. Freshman forward
Ashley Baran came inches from scoring her first collegiate goal in the 87th minute, knocking a shot off the right post after a centering pass from
Allison Lynch. Holy Cross, meanwhile, could not muster up any dangerous offense on the other end.
Sophomore midfielder
Allie Post, in her first collegiate start, picked up the assist on Tiernan's game-winner. Her hard shot was blocked after the Holy Cross keeper broke up a long free ball in from
Becci Fluchel. The ball deflected advantageously in the box to Tiernan, who fired one-time into the right-side netting for the early 1-0 lead.
Joining Bodmer and Post in their first collegiate starts was sophomore back
Naila Schoefberger, who played 60 minutes in the shutout. Graduate transfer forward
Gia Vicari made her Rutgers debut in the starting lineup, taking one shot in 74 minutes of action.
Freshmen
Olivia Russomanno and
Alyssa Martinez joined Baran in college debuts on Thursday at Yurcak.
Overall, RU outshot Holy Cross, 22-2 with a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Tiernan tallied goal No. 13 of her career, while Lowrey netted her 16th. Post picked up the third assist of her young career, making her 14th collegiate appearance in the 2023 opener.
The Scarlet Knights continue the two-match homestand to open the season on Sun., Aug. 20 against Hofstra at 7 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
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