THE DETAILS
Fri., Oct. 4
5 p.m. at Jeffrey Field (University Park, Pa.)
Rutgers (8-1-2, 4-0-1)
at No. 19 Penn State (9-3-1, 3-2-0)
Stream: B1G+
LAST TIME OUT
Rutgers women’s soccer (8-1-2, 4-0-1) came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at No. 1 Michigan State (8-0-4, 3-0-2) on Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium.
Following the unbeaten Spartans’ go-ahead goal in the 80th minute, the Scarlet Knights kept pressing for the equalizer and got their chance when an Ashely Baran cross connected with the hand of a Spartan defender inside her 18-yard box. After a lengthy video assistant review, a penalty was awarded to Rutgers in the 86th with just 4:11 remaining. Redshirt freshman Gabriela Gil stepped up to the pressure-packed moment and buried the penalty to tie the game against the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week.
NO SHOTS, NO SERVICE, NO GOALS
A longtime mantra of the Rutgers women’s soccer defense has proven effective during the 8-1-2 start to the season in which the defense gave up just 0.27 goals per game (3 goals allowed in 11 matches). During that span, Rutgers has held opponents to four or less shots on goal in all 11 games, including three or less in seven out of 11 matches. The 0.27 goals-against average is third best in the country.
Senior center back Kassidy Banks has played every minute through 11 matches, alongside another senior back in Emily Mason anchoring the stingy effort on the defensive end. After missing the opener, freshman Claire Hammill has started in 10 consecutive games at back and ranks sixth among field players in 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 NITTANY LIONS
Penn State has been nationally ranked all season, checking in at No. 19 this week in the coaches poll to go with a No. 8 RPI ranking through Oct. 2. The Nittany Lions defeated Northwestern and Nebraska with matching 1-0 scores, and added a dominant 6-0 win over Michigan to account for three Big Ten wins. Penn State lost to consecutive ranked opponents with a 1-0 loss to No. 5 Michigan State and a 2-1 setback against No. 18 Iowa.
Amanda Poorbaugh leads the goalkeeping unit with six shutouts, good for 12th in the nation, while…
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