Rutgers
Northwestern
Women's Soccer Hosts Northwestern, Nebraska
Oct 07 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. āĀ Rutgers women's soccer will host a pair of conference opponents this weekend when it welcomes Northwestern and Nebraska to Yurcak Field.
The Scarlet Knights will host the Wildcats at 7 p.m. Thursday for the annual "Pink Out" presented by RWJBarnabas Health. They wrap up the weekend against the Cornhuskers on Sunday at 1 p.m. where the program will celebrate Senior Day with a pregame ceremony. It will also be Bark in the Park at Yurcak Field, with fans welcome to bring their dogs to the hill on the opposite side of the bleachers.Ā
Matchday 12
Rutgers (3-5-3, 2-4-0 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (5-5-3, 3-2-1Ā Big Ten)
7 p.m. ET | Thursday, Oct. 8
Yurcak Field (Piscataway, N.J.)
Stream: B1G+
Matchday 13
Rutgers (3-5-3, 2-4-0 Big Ten) vs. Nebraska (3-3-6, 1-2-3 Big Ten)
1 p.m. ET | Sunday, Oct. 11
Yurcak Field (Piscataway, N.J.)
Stream: B1G+
The 2026 Scarlet KnightsĀ Ā
The 2026 roster features a total of 31 players, with 22 returners and 9 newcomers. Of the nine newcomers, seven are true freshmen and two are transfers. Head Coach Mike O'Neill enters his 13th season at the helm of the program and has reached the NCAA Tournament in 11-of-12 seasons.
O'Neill's coaching staff remains intact. Lubos Ancin serves as associate head coach and Ryan Nigro serves as assistant coach. Assistant coach Madison Richard will be on maternity leave for the season. Kevin Esteves has been elevated from video analyst to assistant coach. Trish DiPaolo continues her role as director of operations and Mariana Martinez was added to staff as the new video analyst.
Last Time Out
Returning to action after a week off, RU dropped a close 1-0 decision at Iowa on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights played hard, but a goal in the 36th minute proved to be the winner for the Hawkeyes.Ā Ā
Returning in the Back
Rutgers will have plenty of experience along the back, with all four starters having made 14-plus starts last season. Patricia Tsokos was one of two players to start all 16 matches last season, doing so at left back.
As true freshmen, Lindsey Hailey (15) and Julia Joseph (14) were each regular starters at center back and right back, respectively. Morgan Hippeli started 15 games last season, mostly in the midfield, but made the move to CB in the season finale and will continue in that role this season.
Bodmer in the BoxĀ Ā
Olivia Bodmer is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the country, owning 67 games of experience in her fifth year. Bodmer recorded her 200th career saveĀ last season in becoming just the ninth player in program history to reach that mark. Her 24 career shutouts are fifth in program history and her 262 career saves are good for sixthĀ all-time.
Decorated Freshmen
Rutgers has brought in a highly regarded class of seven freshmen across all three levels.
- Lilia Calvert was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania and offers flexibility across the midfield.
- Marian Dunne and Amanda Thornton are a pair of strikers who both own elite goal-scoring instincts in the middle.
- Tommi Rose Valente is a dynamic midfielder and winger from Kearny, N.J. who has made an immediate impact in the preseason.
- Bea Tinoco and Dina Bojkovic are a pair of highly accomplished forwards from New Jersey.
- Gesare Omwenga rounds out the class as the lone defender and a North Carolina native with extensive club experience with NC Courage.Ā
Transfer DuoĀ
Rutgers added a pair of players from the transfer portal in GK Iris de Rouw and M Lily Ann Phillips.Ā de Rouw provides depth at the goalkeeper position after spending her first year at St. John's. Phillips joins the program after spending her freshman year at Penn State. Phillips is a high-level midfielder expected to contribute immediately on the Banks.
The CaptainsĀ
Head coach Mike O'Neill named GK Olivia Bodmer and M Gabriela Gil as the team's captains for 2026.Ā Both served as captains last year alongside Allie Post, with Bodmer now a three-time team captain.
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