Rutgers women's soccer defeats Southeastern Louisiana to move on in NCAA Tournament
In a first-round matchup that saw the Rutgers women’s soccer team total 20 shots, with half of them going on net, the Scarlet Knights (9-3-3, 6-2-3) won against Southeastern Louisiana in the NCAA Tournament 1-0.
Rutgers was able to win thanks to senior forward/midfielder Amirah Ali’s seventh total goal on the season, which came in the waning minutes of the second half.
The Knights controlled the pace of play 45 minutes into the matchup. Rutgers in the first half alone totaled nine shots, with six of them being on goal. The Knights also totaled five corners and four fouls in the first period alone.
The Lady Lions' (8-3-4, 6-2-3) goalkeeper Nadine Maher limited Rutgers’ goal scoring ability, as she stopped all six shots faced in half number one. Freshman midfielder Julianne Leskauskas had three shots on goal, while senior forward Nneka Moneme missed the goal at 21:19. Freshman midfielder Sara Brocious and freshman midfielder/back Becci Fluchel each had a chance throughout the opening 45 minutes, with both opportunities being denied.
Junior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland faced one lone shot that she swallowed up later in the first half. The first half ended tied at zero, and half number two would consist of another intense scenario.
In half number two, the Knights continued to create offensive chances, finishing the game with 20 total shots, with half of them going on goal. Both teams would keep things physical with 14 combined second-half fouls and a yellow card that was awarded to Makenzie Maher after the go-ahead goal was scored.
With all the offensive chances Rutgers had, the Knights pulled ahead and scored on their 20th shot. At 86:26 freshman forward Allison Lowrey set up Ali, where she scored on a loose rebound in front of the goal. Ali struck for the seventh time this season, with this goal being her 14th game-winning goal in her career.
Rutgers held on and won its first NCAA Tournament game since 2017, and it moves on to the second round for the first time in three years. The Knights will play in round two on Friday in North Carolina, as Rutgers will take on No. 14 seeded Clemson at 7 p.m.
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