Rutgers women's soccer beats Purdue 1-0
The Rutgers women’s soccer team concluded its first road trip of the season by defeating Purdue 1-0 at Folk Field in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Scarlet Knights (2-1-0, 2-1-0) took down the Boilermakers (1-2-0, 1-2-0) for the first time since last season, a game that resulted in a 1-0 overtime victory for Rutgers.
The Knights and Purdue started the game physically, with lots of scoring chances to go along with it as both teams totaled eight combined fouls, six combined shots and two combined corner kicks. Rutgers led the way in total corners and shots attempted in the first half.
The Boilermakers totaled six fouls in the first half, as their only offensive chance of the period was a shot on goal from Sarah Griffith, which was saved by junior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland.
Purdue was able to keep things even at zero for the majority of the half until senior center back Gabby Provenzano scored the only goal of the game with exactly 3 minutes left to play in the first half.
Provenzano struck at 42:00, off assists from freshman midfielder Sara Brocious and freshman midfielder Sam Kroeger, putting the Knights ahead by 1 point.
Half number two saw the Boilermakers total five shots while also obtaining four corner kicks and totaling four fouls.
Both goalies kept things close in the second half, as McClelland made two saves for Rutgers, while Marisa Bova recorded her only two saves of the game in the period, as she denied second-half chances off the foot of freshman forward Giana Romano.
Purdue had two chances by Griffith and Teagan Jones, though the junior keeper for the Knights held onto a shutout for the remainder of the match.
Rutgers held on and won the game 1-0, as McClelland recorded her first shutout of the season. Provenzano scored her first goal of the year and her second game-winner of her career.
The Knights will head back home and take on Michigan State on March 4 at 1 p.m., as Rutgers will look to play its first game of the season at Yurcak Field.
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