Rutgers University
Louisville
Lang Lifts Rutgers Past Louisville in Regular-Season Finale
Oct 22 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -The Rutgers women's soccer team (14-2-2, 8-1-2 BIG EAST) posted a 1-0 win over Louisville (12-4-1, 7-4-0 BIG EAST) in its regular-season finale on Sunday at Yurcak Field.
"It's a great way to end the regular season," said head coach Glenn Crooks. "I just had to thank the players after the game. [Associate head coach] Mike [O'Neill] and I started here together seven seasons ago and one of our goals was to have a group of committed players, each and every one of them are committed to winning and do everything it takes and be a family. Team comes first. They're as close to where we want to be with that mentality as we've ever been."
The Scarlet Knights tied the school-record with 14 wins in a season, a mark set during the 1996 and 2001 seasons. The victory over Louisville also marks the eighth BIG EAST win for Rutgers, the first time in program history the team has won eight conference matches. The shutout was the 13th on the year for the Scarlet Knights, as they extended the school-record for shutouts in a season, previously 11, that was set during the 1996 campaign.
With the victory, the Scarlet Knights finish second in the BIG EAST Conference National Division and secured the opportunity to host a quarterfinal match of the upcoming BIG EAST tournament.
"It's great to be home-I think we play well on our turf," Crooks said. "We get people who support us all season and they'll get to see us once more time at home. The soccer community that comes out to each game has been a huge support for us. From a competitive standpoint, we've played very well at home."
Rutgers' offense generated opportunities early, as Tierney Brady (Brick, N.J.) took the Scarlet Knights' first shot at the 35:44 mark, nailing the attempt from the right side and missing just high of the goal.
Karla Schacher (Tofield, Alberta) and Kristie Lang (East Brunswick, N.J.) took turns looking for each other on Rutgers' next two possessions. With 24:23 remaining in the first half, Lang passed the ball ahead to Schacher, but Louisville goalie Joanna Haig was able to dive on the ball and end the threat. On the next possession, Schacher's cross went just over the head of Lang in front of the goal.
With just 4:41 remaining in the first half, the Scarlet Knights took a 1-0 lead. Brady dribbled around a Louisville defender made a pass from the right side of the field, lifting the ball over the defense to Lang in the goal box to put it in the back of the net for Rutgers. The goal was Lang's fourth on the season.
In the second half, less than four minutes in, Rutgers had a good look at the goal when Haig came off her line. Schacher made a pass from the right side of the goal to Courtney Roarty (Edison, N.J.) at the top of the penalty box. Roarty then hit Jenifer Anzivino (Middletown, N.J.) in the goal box, but the shot was just high of the goal.
With 29:43 to play in the match, Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) made a huge save in goal for the Scarlet Knights as Monique Gjini got a good look at the goal for the Cardinals.
The Scarlet Knights nearly scored a second goal with 9:07 left in the match when Schacher headed the ball to Lang in front of the goal. Lang's shot was saved, but Haig bobbled it, leaving it up for grabs. Schacher came in and took the shot, but Amy Seng blocked the attempt to end the scoring threat.
In the final five minutes, the Louisville attack had three scoring opportunities, but the Rutgers defense was able to break up all three and hold on for the win. With 4:18 to play, Guthrie made another big play, coming off her line to defend Louisville's Erica Robinson on a breakaway, knocking the ball out of play.
At the 2:40 mark, Jamie Craft made a cross from the right side of the field, but Guthrie again came out of position to punch the ball out of the penalty box.
The Cardinals got off two more shots, the first at the 1:12 mark from Gjini, but Guthrie made the play, blocking the ball out of bounds and preventing the score. With eight seconds remaining, Louisville's final attempt came with one second left from inside the box off the foot of the Cardinals' Amy Seng. Guthrie again came up with her fourth save of the match as time expired.
In the most recent rankings by SoccerAmerica, the Scarlet Knights earned the 22nd slot, while SoccerTimes ranked them 25th in its weekly poll. Rutgers has also received votes in the NSCAA national poll.
"When you haven't lost in 16 out of 18 matches, you start to step out on to the field and expect to win and that's where this group is at right now," Crooks said. "At times, we were brilliant, but at the end, Louisville had a few chances to put in the equalizer. Guthrie, again, came up with huge saves for us. We just had so many opportunities to put it away, but we played well and it was a good game."
Rutgers will await the pairings for the BIG EAST Conference Tournament which will be determined on Monday, Oct. 23.
Rutgers 1, Louisville 0Women's Soccer Sunday, October 22, 2006; Yurcak Field; Piscataway, N.J.
1st 2nd Final Louisville 0 0 0 Shots 1st 2nd Total Saves 1st 2nd Total Corner Kicks 1st 2nd Total RU 0 1 1 Fouls 1st 2nd Total Offsides: RU 0, UL 2 Cards: none.
Rutgers 1 0 1
RU 3 7 10
UL 2 5 7
RU 1 3 4
UL 1 2 3
UL 0 1 1
RU 1 5 6
UL 4 3 7
