Friday, September 26
Piscataway, N.J.
3:00 PM
Rutgers University
(5-4, 1-0)
2
vs
1
Ohio State
(3-5, 0-1)
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ohio St.
1
0
0
0
0
1
Rutgers
1
0
0
0
1
2
Photo by: Dakota Moyer
No. 19 Field Hockey Wins Overtime Thriller, 2-1 Over Ohio State
Sep 26 | Field Hockey
RU Opens Big Ten Play with Win in Extra Time on Martha Goodridge Goal
PISCATAWAY, N.J.- No. 19 Rutgers field hockey opened Big Ten Conference play on Friday afternoon in a matchup against Ohio State. A wild game saw the Scarlet Knights establish an early lead, then have to battle back, ultimately coming up clutch with a 2-1 victory in overtime on a goal from freshman Martha Goodridge. The Scarlet Knights improved to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play, dropping OSU to 3-5, 0-1.
Emily Nicholls, who entered the game with a Big Ten best 56 saves, had 11 stops, her third time in the past four games making 10+ saves. Ohio State pressured RU with a 23-12 shot advantage and 7-5 margin on corners in the game.
"For them to be able to find a way, to fight really hard today, that's what it takes to be successful in the Big Ten," head coach Meredith Civico said. "I like that this team is growing in that mentality. This team is still growing and developing and figuring out what we're good at. Every time we compete, we see more coming out of them and that's really exciting."
Rutgers got the came off to a strong start in the opening minute of the contest. Sophie Kuiper got the ball with space, carried past the defense and blasted home the game's first goal just 47 minutes into the contest.
However, Ohio State cranked up the pressure for the next 44 minutes of the contest. Following the opening goal through the end of the third quarter, the visitors outshot the Scarlet Knights by a 20-0 margin. In that time, Ohio State evened the score in the sixth minute of the contest, with Lindsey Roberts scoring off a rebound and some chaos in front of the net. RU's defense stood tall from there and held OSU scoreless over the next sixty minutes.
Following the intermission after the third quarter, RU flipped the momentum and amped up the offensive pressure, outshooting OSU 11-3 over the final 22 minutes of the contest leading into the game-winning goal.
Even in that disparity, RU's defense came up huge. Puck Winter made a pair of defensive saves in the final two minutes regulation to send it to extra time, reaching up to knock one shot out of the air, then getting low to block one on the resulting corner.
"Credit all of our defenders, that unit with our goalkeeper Emily Nicholls, they were really tough and gritty defensively," Civico said. "There was a lot of pressure on offense from a tough Ohio State unit. That was Rutgers hockey, tough, gritty, that defensive mentality wins us games.
In overtime, Rutgers finished off the victory with three freshmen charging up the field and a pair of roommates finishing it off for the victory. Julia Vinas Nieto carried the ball up the far side of the field, and Samantha Arnold sprinted from her position on defense all the way to the backline. Vinas Nieto sent a pass to Arnold, who artfully redirected it around the goalkeeper on one touch to a charging Martha Goodridge, who blasted home the game winner.
"Martha used her strengths as a hockey player, which is speed in space," Civico explained. "She had the pace and got there, and Sammy made a great one-time off the baseline. It was an absolutely amazing finish on the combination from the both of them. A true highlight reel goal."
Postgame Notes
Emily Nicholls, who entered the game with a Big Ten best 56 saves, had 11 stops, her third time in the past four games making 10+ saves. Ohio State pressured RU with a 23-12 shot advantage and 7-5 margin on corners in the game.
"For them to be able to find a way, to fight really hard today, that's what it takes to be successful in the Big Ten," head coach Meredith Civico said. "I like that this team is growing in that mentality. This team is still growing and developing and figuring out what we're good at. Every time we compete, we see more coming out of them and that's really exciting."
Rutgers got the came off to a strong start in the opening minute of the contest. Sophie Kuiper got the ball with space, carried past the defense and blasted home the game's first goal just 47 minutes into the contest.
What a way to start Big Ten play!
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) September 26, 2025
Sophie Kuiper scores a goal in the first minute of the first game of conference play for a statement start at 1-0 lead over Ohio State pic.twitter.com/q1ErQ6ygqF
However, Ohio State cranked up the pressure for the next 44 minutes of the contest. Following the opening goal through the end of the third quarter, the visitors outshot the Scarlet Knights by a 20-0 margin. In that time, Ohio State evened the score in the sixth minute of the contest, with Lindsey Roberts scoring off a rebound and some chaos in front of the net. RU's defense stood tall from there and held OSU scoreless over the next sixty minutes.
Following the intermission after the third quarter, RU flipped the momentum and amped up the offensive pressure, outshooting OSU 11-3 over the final 22 minutes of the contest leading into the game-winning goal.
Even in that disparity, RU's defense came up huge. Puck Winter made a pair of defensive saves in the final two minutes regulation to send it to extra time, reaching up to knock one shot out of the air, then getting low to block one on the resulting corner.
Unbelievable efforts from the Scarlet Knights in the OT win against the Buckeyes!
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) September 26, 2025
Puck Winter came up huge with 2 defensive saves in the final minutes of regulation, then #RUFH won it in overtime
Recap, notes, quotes and photos from the win: https://t.co/10L6RX6lLI pic.twitter.com/CMFfEPngO6
"Credit all of our defenders, that unit with our goalkeeper Emily Nicholls, they were really tough and gritty defensively," Civico said. "There was a lot of pressure on offense from a tough Ohio State unit. That was Rutgers hockey, tough, gritty, that defensive mentality wins us games.
In overtime, Rutgers finished off the victory with three freshmen charging up the field and a pair of roommates finishing it off for the victory. Julia Vinas Nieto carried the ball up the far side of the field, and Samantha Arnold sprinted from her position on defense all the way to the backline. Vinas Nieto sent a pass to Arnold, who artfully redirected it around the goalkeeper on one touch to a charging Martha Goodridge, who blasted home the game winner.
What a play for the game-winning goal as RU takes down Ohio State in OT!
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) September 26, 2025
A trio of freshmen making things happen on the play, with Martha Goodridge ultimately finishing off the assist from her roommate Samantha Arnold pic.twitter.com/8rgnTF13kA
"Martha used her strengths as a hockey player, which is speed in space," Civico explained. "She had the pace and got there, and Sammy made a great one-time off the baseline. It was an absolutely amazing finish on the combination from the both of them. A true highlight reel goal."
Postgame Notes
- With two defensive saves, Puck Winter has 29 in her career, tied for 7th in NCAA history.
- Freshman Samantha Arnold made her first career start for the Scarlet Knights at back.
- Rutgers has outscored opponents 18-6 this season.
- Rutgers is 12-6 in the all-time series against Ohio State
- The Scarlet Knights have an eight-game winning streak versus OSU.
- Rutgers allowed just four goals to the Buckeyes in the last nine meetings.
- Rutgers is 5-1 in the past six Big Ten openers.
- Rutgers returns home on Sunday for the final non-conference game, hosting Columbia at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
OHIO ST.
RUTGERS
Goals
1
2
Shots
23
12
Shots on Goal
14
9
Saves
7
11
Corners
7
5
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Sophie Kuiper (3)
GOAL by Rutgers Sophie Kuiper (FIRST GOAL), goal number 3 for season.
0:47
Lindsey Roberts
GOAL by Ohio St. Lindsey Roberts
5:38
Martha Goodridge (2)
Assisted By: Samantha Arnold
GOAL by Rutgers Martha Goodridge, Assist by Samantha Arnold, goal number 2 for season.
67:11
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
B
/ Field HockeyB
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
B
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