I

THE DETAILS

Thu., Oct. 10
7:30 p.m. at Yurcak Field (Piscataway, N.J.)
Rutgers (8-1-3, 4-0-2)
vs. Nebraska (4-7-1, 1-4-1)
TV: Big Ten Network

At the Stadium
Blackout
Wear black to the game and show your solidarity with the team. Receive a black Rutgers t-shirt, while supplies last.
The tailgate takes place in the parking lot three hours before kickoff. Then 90 minutes before kickoff, fans are encouraged to welcome the Scarlet Knights to Yurcak Field at the Scarlet Walk located outside the ticket booth.

II

SETTING THE STAGE

Rutgers is unbeaten over its last nine matches at 7-0-2, including 1-1 draws on the road at then-No. 1 Michigan State and No. 19 Penn State. Sitting at No. 27 in the Oct. 7 RPI Rankings, the Scarlet Knights own draws against the No. 2, 4, and 6 RPI teams (Wake Forest, Michigan State, and Penn State). Rutgers is receiving votes in the Oct. 1 United Soccer Coaches national poll and is No. 15 in the latest Top Drawer Soccer poll.

Rutgers plays four of its remaining five regular season matches at home, including a Sunday 1 p.m. tilt with No. 11 Iowa at Yurcak Field.

III

NO SHOTS, NO SERVICE, NO GOALS

A longtime mantra of the Rutgers women's soccer defense has proven effective during the 8-1-3 start to the season in which the defense gave up just 0.33 goals per game (4 goals allowed in 12 matches). During that span, Rutgers has held opponents to four or less shots on goal in all 11 of 12 games, including three or less in seven matches. The 0.33 goals-against average is the second best in the country.

Senior center back Kassidy Banks has played every minute through 12 matches, alongside another senior back in Emily Mason anchoring the stingy effort on the defensive end. After missing the opener, freshman Claire Hammill has started in 11 consecutive games at back and ranks sixth among field players in minutes. Sophomore Audrey Cain has three starts on the backline, while freshman Riley Morris and sophomore Ava Brass also have contributed minutes to the backline efforts.

IV

SCOUTING THE HUSKERS

Nebraska is 4-7-1 overall and 1-4-1 in the Big Ten. The Huskers are 1-1-1 over its last three with a 1-0 win over Illinois, 1-0 loss to then-No. 15 Penn State, and a 2-2 draw at Wisconsin. Nebraska is being outscored 23-16 this season. Sarah Weber leads the attack with 16 points on seven goals and two assists, with her three game-winning goals ranking 24th in the NCAA. She takes 5.3 shots per game, which ranks third in the country. Goalkeepers Cece Villa (2.03 goals-against average, .725 save percentage) and Samantha Hauk (1.76 GAA, .667 S%) split time between the pipes.

Rutgers is 1-0-7 all-time against Nebraska all in the Big Ten regular season since 2014, including an all-too-familiar 2-2 draw in Lincoln last season. The Scarlet Knights own the only non-draw in the series - a 1-0 win at home in 2021, the last time the series was played in Piscataway. Rutgers is 1-0-2 against Nebraska in New Jersey.

V

BODMER'S BOX

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer has done her part as part of the defensive unit leading to 0.33 goals allowed per game. Bodmer ranks ninth in the NCAA with her five shutouts, including clean sheets in four consecutive games heading into the Big Ten home opener. Her 0.33 goals-against average ranks fifth in the nation and first in the Big Ten. Bodmer's .905 save percentage is also fifth nationally and tops in the Big Ten. Bodmer's seven solo shutouts are 11th in the NCAA and second in the conference.

"We play as a team, we defend as a team," Bodmer said. "All 31 of us are doing what we can to help this team. We call each other sisters, and it helps to have them in front of me. I can't thank them enough; they are the best backline I could ask for. They instill confidence in not just me, but the whole team."

Bodmer claimed the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honor after a 1-0 shutout at Michigan and a 1-1 draw at No. 1 Michigan State, marking Rutgers' first Goalkeeper of the Week conference honor since Meagan McClelland in 2021.

VI

THE ASSIST QUEEN

Senior striker Riley Tiernan's two assists in the 3-0 win over Oregon on Sept. 19 gave her 30 for her career, setting the new school record for career assists at Rutgers. She tied, then passed Gina DeMaio's (2006-10) previous school record of 29. Tiernan now ranks eighth in the NCAA and is second in the Big Ten with her seven assists this season.

"It's all because of the team," Tiernan said. "We have a lot of talent and depth this year, so knowing I can dish the ball out and my teammates are going to put it in the back of the net is key. You can't be an assister without those people that are going to put the ball away."

Tiernan's game-winner in the 1-0 win over Washington gave her 66 career points, tying her with her sister Madison (Tiernan) Richard for eighth place all-time in the Rutgers record book.

VII

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

Rutgers returned 41 percent of its points from 2023 and was in search for new sources of offense heading into 2024. The underclassmen responded with four Scarlet Knights recording their first collegiate points over the first matches of the season.

Freshman midfielder Shaela Bradley, who has started all 12 games, scored her first goal in the win over Maine and added her first assist in the victory over Lehigh. Bradley is a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and ranks third on the team with nine points on three goals and three assists, including the equalizing goal to earn the 1-1 draw at No. 19 Penn State on Friday.

Redshirt freshman Reilly McGlinn opened her collegiate scoring with Rutgers' goal against Wake Forest in the 1-1 draw and pitched in her first assist in the win over Maine. Redshirt freshman Gabriela Gil scored the opening goal and game-winner against Lehigh for her first score, and netted the game-winner in the 1-0 victory at Michigan. Freshman Mikayla Mandleur notched her first collegiate point on the assist in the Lehigh triumph.

Gabriela Gil claimed Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after scoring a high-pressure penalty in the 86th minute to tie the game at 1-1 at No. 1 Michigan State.

VIII

SPREAD OFFENSE

Rutgers' first six goals of the season were scored by six different players. Nine different Scarlet Knights have accounted for their 18 total goals. Ten different players have recorded a point during the 2024 season.

IX

YOUNG MINUTES

Rutgers sports two true freshmen in the starting lineup in forward Shaela Bradley and back Claire Hammill, alongside another starter in redshirt freshman midfielder Gabriela Gil. The following freshmen or redshirt freshmen also have minutes through the first six games: Reilly McGlinn, Mikayla Mandleur, Riley Morris, Gabby Miller, and Brianna Azevedo.

X

BETWEEN THE POST

Junior forward Allie Post has emerged as a top scoring threat in the Scarlet Knight offense. She scored her first career brace, netting both goals in the 2-0 win over NC State in the non-conference finale. She's the leading Rutgers goal scorer with four tallies, adding a marker in the 3-0 win over Lehigh and the game-winner against Oregon. After scoring four and two points during her freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively, she now has 10 through 12 games as a junior.

XI

IMPACT TRANSFERS

Transfers Sydney Urban (Maryland) and Patricia Tsokos (Arkansas) have made their presence known in their first seasons in Scarlet. Graduate transfer Urban has started in all 12 matches in the midfield and has contributed plenty to the 0.33 goals-against average ranking second in the NCAA. Sophomore Tsokos has 10 starts in 12 appearances and also flexes well between defensive and midfield positions to chip into one of the best defensive metrics in the country.


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