No. 19 Rutgers women's soccer is defeated by Wisconsin 1-0
As the Rutgers women’s soccer team began its second to last road trip of the season, after its 0-0 draw at Nebraska on Thursday, the No. 19 Scarlet Knights (6-2-2, 6-2-2) once again were held scoreless. They fell to Wisconsin 1-0 in the waning minutes of regulation this past Sunday at the Dan McClimon Memorial Track/Soccer Complex in Madison.
After 87 minutes of scoreless play, Rutgers lost steam as the Badgers (6-3-1, 6-3-1) won their second straight game via shutout, thanks to a go-ahead goal scored by Wisconsin's Jenna Kiraly.
As the matchup began, both the Knights and the Badgers were eager to kick off the game, as the first half saw five total shots, five total corners and six total fouls within 45 minutes of play.
Rutgers found itself locked inside its own zone for the first 20 minutes of play, as Wisconsin managed 2 of its 5 corners early while having a scoring chance blocked at 17:28. The Knights would total 4 of the total 6 fouls in period number one, with only one shot on goal that Badger Jordyn Bloomer turned aside from senior forward/midfielder Amirah Ali.
Wisconsin would total three shot attempts, though none on goal, as junior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland had no need to make a save through one half of action. Rutgers and the Badgers would be tied at zero entering the second half.
In half number two, the Knights found themselves with several scoring chances but with no ability to find the back of the net. Rutgers would total 11 second-half shots, with 6 of them going on goal. Bloomer would knock away every scoring chance the Knights had, as Rutgers found itself shooting in double digits for the second-straight game.
The Knights would pick up the game's only yellow card, as junior defender/midfielder Shea Holland received the penalty at 84:01.
At 87:31, Kiraly would break the ice by scoring her first goal of the season, off a turnover created by Wisconsin's Cameron Murtha. Kiraly would tap home an open goal chance, which would seal the deal for the Badgers in order for them to win the game.
Rutgers will look to finish the road trip and regular season with a seventh win this year at Michigan, playing this Sunday at 1 p.m. in Ann Arbor.
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