Starting XI: Women's Soccer vs. Washington

Sep 22 | Women's Soccer

Watch on B1G+Live Stats 2024 Record Book

The 11 things to know before the Scarlet Knights host the Huskies on Sun., Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. at Yurcak Field

I

THE DETAILS

Sun., Sept. 22
1 p.m. at Yurcak Field (Piscataway, N.J.)
Rutgers (6-1-1, 2-0-0)
vs. Washington (4-2-2, 1-1-0)

At the Stadium
Sunday Funday / Bark in the Park
Bring your furry friends to Bark in the Park. The first fans will receive a dog bandanna giveaway. Enjoy face painting, caricature artists, and $1 hot dogs before the game.
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

LAST TIME OUT

Senior forward Riley Tiernan assisted on two goals in a 3-0 win for Rutgers women's soccer (6-1-1, 2-0-0) over Oregon (4-5-0, 0-2-0) on Thursday night at Yurcak Field in the first match as Big Ten opponents. The two helpers moved Tiernan to 30 career assists, the new all-time record "On the Banks."

Allie Post, Shaela Bradley, and Kylie Daigle scored for Rutgers. All six of Rutgers' wins this season have come via shutout via goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer and the backline.

III

NO SHOTS, NO SERVICE, NO GOALS

A longtime mantra of the Rutgers women's soccer defense has proven effective during the 6-1-1 start to the season in which the defense gave up just 0.25 goals per game (2 goals allowed in eight matches). During that span, Rutgers has held opponents to four or less shots on goal in all eight games, including three or less in six out of eight matches. The 0.25 goals-against average ranks third in the country and tops in the new 18-team Big Ten Conference.

Senior center backs Kassidy Banks and Emily Mason have played every minute through eight matches, anchoring the stingy effort on the defensive end. After missing the opener, freshman Claire Hammill has started in seven consecutive games at back and ranks sixth among field players with 517 minutes. Sophomore Audrey Cain has three starts and 361 minutes on the backline, while freshman Riley Morris and sophomore Ava Brass also have contributed minutes to the backline efforts.

IV

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

Washington is 4-2-2 overall and 1-1 to start their first season in the Big Ten with a 1-0 loss to USC and a 3-0 victory at Maryland. Washington leading goal scorer Samiah Shell is enjoying a breakout sophomore campaign this season, pacing the Huskies with four goals after bagging a brace in Thursday's 3-0 at Maryland.

Washington and Rutgers have met up three times previously, though none have been in the last decade. The last matchup came in 2010, a 1-0 win for the Scarlet Knights in a neutral site matchup in Portland, Oregon with current Director of Operation Trish DiPaolo scoring the game-winner in the 71st minute. The two sides played a home-and-home in the late 90s, with Rutgers earning a 4-3 shootout victory in 1997 in Seattle and Washington answering with a 3-1 win in Piscataway the following year.

V

BODMER'S BOX

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer has done her part as part of the defensive unit leading to 0.25 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 0.25 goals-against average ranks ninth in the nation. Bodmer's .905 save percentage is 14th nationally and second in the Big Ten.

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 second in the NCAA and is atop 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."

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 seven games, scored her first goal in the win over Maine and added her first assist in the victory over Lehigh. 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 has assists in two of the last three wins. Freshman Mikayla Mandleur notched her first collegiate point on the assist in the Lehigh triumph.

VIII

SPREAD OFFENSE

Rutgers' first six goals of the season were scored by six different players. Eight different Scarlet Knights have accounted for their 14 total goals. Ten different players have recorded a point during the early portion of 2024.

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 (257), Mikayla Mandleur (262), Riley Morris (103), Gabby Miller (55), and Brianna Azevedo (70).

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 just eight 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 seven matches in the midfield and has contributed plenty to the 0.25 goals-against average ranking third in the NCAA. Sophomore Tsokos has six starts in eight appearances and also flexes well between defensive and midfield positions to chip into one of the best defensive metrics in the country.

Stay up to date on the latest news and schedule updates by following Rutgers women's soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
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