ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Sophomore forward Ashley Baran blasted the game-winner 42 seconds after halftime and Rutgers women's soccer (8-1-1, 4-0-0) held on to shut out Michigan (2-8-1, 1-3-0) by a 1-0 score on Thursday night at U-M Soccer Stadium live on Big Ten Network.
 
The Scarlet Knights have not allowed a goal in 640 minutes of play and have produced seven consecutive shutouts. All eight RU wins have come this season via the clean sheet.
 
Olivia Bodmer, in her seventh solo shutout, made all four of her saves in the opening half, including a leaping tip that sent a would-be goal into the post and back into play for a Rutgers clear.

Olivia Bodmer with the tip save for @RUWSoccer 🧤#B1GWSoccer on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/WB8WFhXOMi

— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) September 27, 2024

Baran's banger came just 42 seconds into the second half, when she created her own space at the corner of the Michigan 18-yard box and surprised the crowd, the television announcers, and the Wolverine keeper with a screamer inside the far post into the side netting for the 1-0 lead. It was the first of the year for Baran and came on Rutgers' first shot on goal in contest.

An absolute BANGER from Ashley Baran 🚀

This was a thing of beauty for @RUWSoccer 🤩#B1GWSoccer on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/GoBtO0BvNB

— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) September 27, 2024

"I saw the keeper was off her line and decided to shoot," Baran said. "I'm so happy I was able to help the team get our seventh shutout win in a row."

The Scarlet Knight defense locked down in the second half, allowing just three shot attempts and none on target after allowing four on goal in the opening 45 minutes. Kassidy Banks, Emily Mason, Patricia Tsokos, and Claire Hammill all played the full 90 on the backline.
 
RU took all three of shots on target in the second half, with Shaela Bradley and Gia Girman joining Baran.
 
Rutgers stays in the state of Michigan to visit No. 1 Michigan State on Sun., Sept 29 at noon on B1G+. It is Rutgers' first matchup against the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA since losing to No. 1 Florida State in the NCAA College Cup semifinals in 2021.
 
NOTES

• Rutgers starts 4-0 in Big Ten play for the second time since joining the conference in 2014. The Scarlet Knights won the Big Ten title in 2021 going 10-0.
• The clean sheet marked Rutgers' seventh consecutive shutout, the first such stretch since 2017 when the Scarlet Knights opened the season with nine straight clean sheets.
• The solo shutout was the 16th in Olivia Bodmer's career in her 30th match.
• Career goal: Ashley Baran (4)
• Rutgers has allowed four shots on goal or less in all 10 games.
• Rutgers is now 6-4-2 all-time against Michigan since 2014 when the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten. RU is 2-2-1 in Ann Arbor and 6-2-2 in the Big Ten regular season against the Wolverines.

 
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