No. 7 Rutgers field hockey to visit No. 18 UMass
The Rutgers field hockey team is slated to hit the road again this weekend. The Scarlet Knights (8-0, 1-0) are having a historic year so far, staying undefeated through the first half of the regular season.
No. 7 Rutgers had a very successful week last week, taking down then-No. 12 Penn State in double overtime and then shutting out La Salle in its home opener on Sunday.
The Knights are being recognized for their impressive start, from national rankings to individual accolades. Rutgers has moved up three spots in this week's NFHCA poll, ranking the program at seventh in the country.
Junior goaltender Sophia Howard was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after her impressive performances last week. With two consecutive shutouts and seven saves against Penn State alone, Howard earned the honor. She currently leads the Big Ten with her .848 save percentage and holds third place in the national rankings with her 0.56 goals-against-average.
Redshirt senior back Iris Langejans has also had a strong season leading the backline and is third on the team with 5 points.
The Knights are looking to keep out of the loss column this week when they travel to Hadley, Massachusetts, to play against UMass (5-3, 1-0). The Minutewomen are coming off a 2-1 loss to UMass Lowell and will be hosting the Explorers on Friday before they meet Rutgers on Sunday.
Mali Herberhold leads No. 18 UMass offensively with 8 points. The midfielder has netted 3 goals in eight games and has put a team-leading eight shots on goal.
The Knights will face 1 of 2 goalkeepers when they visit the Minutemen on Sunday. Myrte van Herwijnen has had the most starts this season with six games under her belt while sporting a 1.66 goals-against-average and 22 saves. Brooke Richards is also available on the net for UMass. Richards has only played two games but flashes a 1.50 goals-against-average from her time in goal.
Rutgers has a lot to prove this week, trying to continue its historic season. Another win on the road would tie the program's record from 1993 with eight road wins in a single season. Another ranked win would open up more eyes across the nation.
The Knights and the Minutewomen will face off at noon on Sunday and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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