PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Three former Scarlet Knights of Rutgers women’s soccer have found recent success with their respective professional squads. Casey Murphy (‘17) and Frankie Tagliaferri (‘21), members of the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League, helped their team win the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup. Brianne Reed (‘15) of South Melbourne FC helped her team win the 2023 National Premier Leagues Victoria Women’s Championship.

The NWSL Challenge Cup Championship game saw Murphy and Tagliaferri go up against fellow Rutgers graduate Taylor Aylmer with Racing Louisville F.C. 

The newly reformatted 2023 Challenge Cup was the first time that the tournament ran as an in-season campaign with games throughout the course of the regular season since it started in 2020. Each NWSL team played six games with the top four clubs going on to play a two-round elimination round to crown the tournament’s champion.

After their first six matches, the Courage found themselves as the No. 3 seed in elimination play. The club took down No. 2 Kansas City, 1-0, to set themselves up to take on Racing Louisville FC for the trophy. In the win over KC, Murphy recorded two saves en route to the clean sheet. 

The championship, which took place on Saturday, September 9, saw the Courage claim a 2-0 victory to earn the Challenge Cup crown for the second-straight season. In the victory, Murphy recorded one save, while Tagliaferri recorded six minutes on the pitch.

Throughout the Challenge Cup, both alumni played a significant role in the success of their club. In six games played, Tagliaferri earned five starts, scoring two goals and adding one assist. 

Murphy recorded three starts in three games played with four saves. The goalkeeper spent time away from the club during the Challenge Cup to play with the United States Women’s National Team in the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Each of the three former Scarlet Knights enjoyed successful careers during their time ‘On the Banks.’

From 2014-17, Murphy was a two-time All-American, a two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, and the all-time leader in shutouts with 45 during her career. During her final season with the Scarlet Knights, the goalkeeper conceded just six goals and recorded 73 saves in 21 games played.

Tagliaferri spent one season at RU following a successful four-year career at Penn State. In 2021, she started in every game for the Scarlet Knights, earning All-America First Team honors, as well as being named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and a member of the All-Big Ten First Team.

Reed played four seasons at Rutgers from 2012-15, leading the Scarlet Knights to the school’s first NCAA College Cup in her senior season. Following the 2015 campaign, she was named First Team All-Big Ten, while also receiving All-America honors. Reed anchored a nationally renowned defense that recorded a program-record 770:16 consecutive minutes of shutout soccer over nine matches.