PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's soccer (10-3-3, 6-2-2) defeated Illinois (7-8-2, 3-6-1) by a 2-1 score on a Sunday afternoon match at Yurcak Field that celebrated 40 years of Scarlet Knights women's soccer, as well as honoring survivors and those we lost to breast cancer.
Riley Tiernan scored the opening goal, and after Illinois tied it,
Shaela Bradley scored the game-winner off Tiernan's assist. The scoring all occurred in the first half as the Rutgers defense clamped down to stamp the 2-1 home victory in the regular season's penultimate match.
"We had momentum in the beginning," sophomore defender
Patricia Tsokos said. "We went through a rough spot these last two games, so we recollected, came together, found the issue, and adapted. We really fought through a defensive final 20 minutes feeling some pressure, and we're happy with the win."
Tiernan got the Scarlet Knights on the board in the 23rd minute when she broke up an Illinois clear attempt, attacked the keeper with a juke, and slotted a shot home for the 1-0 lead.
The Illini took just three minutes to equalize.
Rutgers' response was almost just as fast early in the 32nd minute. Tiernan again took advantage of a failed clear out of the back and played a cross to Bradley, who took a one-time rocket into the top-right corner of the goal for the eventual game-winner, the rookie's second clinching goal of the season.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper
Olivia Bodmer made five saves in net to preserve the 10th win of the year.
Emily Mason and
Kassidy Banks, who missed last match with an injury, both played the full 90. Freshman
Riley Morris played 26 impactful minutes on the backline.
Illinois outshot Rutgers, 15-10, but it was RU with the 7-6 advantage in shots on goal, three of which came from Tiernan.
The Scarlet Knights started three true freshmen for the second consecutive match with Bradley, defender
Claire Hammill, and midfielder
Mikayla Mandleur.
Rutgers hosts the regular season finale on Sun., Oct. 27 against Maryland at 1 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
NOTES
- Riley Tiernan's 31st career assist moved her into a tie for 10th place all-time in the Big Ten career assists record book. She extended her school record for career assists at RU.
- Riley Tiernan broke a tie with her sister Madison (Tiernan) Richard for eighth place and moved into a sixth-place tie all-time at Rutgers with 69 career points.
- Riley Tiernan recorded her sixth career game with at least one goal and at least one assist.
- Career goals: Riley Tiernan (19), Shaela Bradley (4)
- Shaela Bradley has scored two game-winning goals in her freshman season.
- Rutgers is 5-1-1 against Illinois since joining the conference in 2014, including a 3-0-1 mark at Yurcak Field.
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