Women’s Soccer: 10 Things Before Big Ten

NO SHOTS, NO SERVICE, NO GOALS

A longtime mantra of the Rutgers women’s soccer defense has proven effective during the 4-1-1 start to the season in which the defense gave up just 0.33 goals per game (2 goals allowed in six games). During that span, Rutgers has held opponents to four or less shots on goal in all six games, including three or less in five out of six matches. The 0.33 goals-against average ranks 14th 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 six matches, anchoring the stingy effort on the defensive end. After missing the opener, freshman Claire Hammill has started in five consecutive games at back and ranks sixth among field players with 352 minutes. Sophomore Audrey Cain has three starts and 339 minutes on the backline, while freshman Riley Morris and sophomore Ava Brass also have contrinuted minutes to the backline efforts.

BODMER’S BOX

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer has done her part as part of the defensive unit leading to 0.33 goals allowed per game. Bodmer ranks eighth in the NCAA with her four shutouts, including clean sheets in three consecutive games heading into Big Ten play. Her 0.33 goals-against average ranks 17th in the nation. Bodmer’s .875 save percentage is fourth in the Big Ten ahead of conference play. 

TIERNAN ON A TEAR

Senior striker Riley Tiernan is on a heater with eight offensive points over her final three non-conference matches. A goal and an assist against both Lehigh and Maine, and a pair of helpers against NC State pushed Tiernan to a team-high nine points. Her five assists rank 11th in the country, while her 0.83 assists per game mark comes in seventh nationally. Both figures are tops in the Big Ten through non-conference play. She was awarded Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week honorable mention following her six-point week during the period ending on Sept. 1.

Tiernan’s two assists in the 2-0 win over NC State gave her 28 for her career, moving into second place all-time in the Rutgers record book, passing Jennifer Gibbons’ (1989-92) 27. She is chasing Gina DeMaio’s (2006-10) school record 29.

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…