THE DETAILS
Thu., Sept. 26
8 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Rutgers (7-1-1, 3-0-0)
at Michigan (2-7-1, 1-2-0)
TV: Big Ten Network
LAST TIME OUT
Rutgers women’s soccer (7-1-1, 3-0-0) defeated Washington (4-3-2, 1-2-0) by a 1-0 score on Sunday at Yurcak Field in the first meeting as Big Ten opponents. The shutout was Rutgers’ sixth consecutive clean sheet, spanning 550 minutes of scoreless soccer on defense. All seven wins this season have come via the shutout. The six consecutive shutouts is the longest streak “On the Banks” since 2017 when the Scarlet Knights opened the season with nine straight clean sheets.
Riley Tiernan, one of the nation’s premier assisters, was on the receiving end of an excellent pass for the opening goal in just the fourth minute. Shaela Bradley cleared space for Emily Mason behind the midfield logo, where she launched a long ball over the Washington backline for Tiernan, who blasted a left-footed rocket from inside the Huskies’ 18 into the top-left of the net for the quick 1-0 lead.
NO SHOTS, NO SERVICE, NO GOALS
A longtime mantra of the Rutgers women’s soccer defense has proven effective during the 7-1-1 start to the season in which the defense gave up just 0.22 goals per game (2 goals allowed in nine matches). During that span, Rutgers has held opponents to four or less shots on goal in all nine games, including three or less in seven out of nine matches. The 0.22 goals-against average ranks second 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 nine matches, anchoring the stingy effort on the defensive end. After missing the opener, freshman Claire Hammill has started in eight consecutive games at back and ranks sixth among field players with 602 minutes. Sophomore Audrey Cain has three starts and 366 minutes on the backline, while freshman Riley Morris and sophomore Ava Brass also have contributed minutes to the backline efforts.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan is 2-7-1 overall and 1-2 to start Big Ten play with losses to No. 12 Penn State and Minnesota and a 3-2 win over…
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