Starting XI: Women's Soccer at Michigan

Sep 26 | Women's Soccer

Watch on Big Ten Network Live Stats

The 11 things to know before the Scarlet Knights visit the Wolverines on Thu., Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. live on Big Ten Network

I

THE DETAILS

Thu., Sept. 26
8 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Rutgers (7-1-1, 3-0-0)
at Michigan (2-7-1, 1-2-0)
TV: Big Ten Network

II

LAST TIME OUT

Rutgers women's soccer (7-1-1, 3-0-0) defeated Washington (4-3-2, 1-2-0) by a 1-0 score on Sunday at Yurcak Field in the first meeting as Big Ten opponents. The shutout was Rutgers' sixth consecutive clean sheet, spanning 550 minutes of scoreless soccer on defense. All seven wins this season have come via the shutout. The six consecutive shutouts is the longest streak "On the Banks" since 2017 when the Scarlet Knights opened the season with nine straight clean sheets.

Riley Tiernan, one of the nation's premier assisters, was on the receiving end of an excellent pass for the opening goal in just the fourth minute. Shaela Bradley cleared space for Emily Mason behind the midfield logo, where she launched a long ball over the Washington backline for Tiernan, who blasted a left-footed rocket from inside the Huskies' 18 into the top-left of the net for the quick 1-0 lead.

III

NO SHOTS, NO SERVICE, NO GOALS

A longtime mantra of the Rutgers women's soccer defense has proven effective during the 7-1-1 start to the season in which the defense gave up just 0.22 goals per game (2 goals allowed in nine matches). During that span, Rutgers has held opponents to four or less shots on goal in all nine games, including three or less in seven out of nine matches. The 0.22 goals-against average ranks second 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 nine matches, anchoring the stingy effort on the defensive end. After missing the opener, freshman Claire Hammill has started in eight consecutive games at back and ranks sixth among field players with 602 minutes. Sophomore Audrey Cain has three starts and 366 minutes on the backline, while freshman Riley Morris and sophomore Ava Brass also have contributed minutes to the backline efforts.

IV

SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES

Michigan is 2-7-1 overall and 1-2 to start Big Ten play with losses to No. 12 Penn State and Minnesota and a 3-2 win over Nebraska. Michigan's first win of the season came on Sept. 8 against then-No. 24 Alabama, a 1-0 final score in Ann Arbor. Taylor Brennan scored the game-winning goal for Michigan against Nebraska, marking the first goal of her career. Brennan's goal came off an assist from Lilley Bosley, who recorded the first point of her career with the helper.

Jenna Lang leads the offense with eight points on four goals, while Stephanie Sparkowski has started all 10 games in net with a 2.47 goals-against average.

V

BODMER'S BOX

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer has done her part as part of the defensive unit leading to 0.22 goals allowed per game. Bodmer ranks sixth in the NCAA with her six solo shutouts, including clean sheets in four consecutive games heading into the Big Ten home opener. Her 0.22 goals-against average ranks fourth in the nation and first in the Big Ten. Bodmer's .917 save percentage is fourth nationally and tops in the Big Ten.

"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."

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."

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 nine games, scored her first goal in the win over Maine and added her first assist in the victory over Lehigh. She is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week after scoring points in both wins over Oregon and Washington, a goal against the Ducks and an assist in the lone goal against Washington.

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 four 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 15 total goals. Ten different players have recorded a point halfway through 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 (294), Mikayla Mandleur (294), Riley Morris (103), Gabby Miller (55), and Brianna Azevedo (75).

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 nine 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 nine matches in the midfield and has contributed plenty to the 0.22 goals-against average ranking second in the NCAA. Sophomore Tsokos has seven starts in nine 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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