Superb performance by Olivia Bodmer helps Rutgers women's soccer draw with Nebraska
The Rutgers women's soccer team went on the road to face off against Nebraska last night. The Scarlet Knights (5-4-3, 1-2-1) drew with the Cornhuskers (7-2-3, 1-1-2) by a score of 2-2 in a hard-fought match.
The scoring started early in the game for both teams. Rutgers was the first to strike when senior midfielder Sara Brocious curled in a beautiful goal off her left foot in the 5th minute.
Nebraska responded approximately 2 minutes later when Eleanor Dale found the back of the net.
The match was off to a breathtaking start, with scoring chances for both sides.
The Knights kept their hot start going when they scored again in the 23rd minute. This time, it was senior midfielder and forward Sam Kroeger who scored off assists from senior forward Allison Lowrey and junior forward Riley Tiernan. In the build-up play before the goal, the ball nearly traveled out of play before Lowrey made an excellent cutback pass toward Kroeger, who powered it in for the goal.
The lead would not last until the half, though, as the Cornhuskers leveled the game in the 43rd minute. Yet again, it was Dale who added to her goal tally. Dale now has the second-most goals in the country.
The 2-2 tie held into halftime.
Despite the tied score, Rutgers was trailing in some key statistics at halftime. The Knights trailed 15-8 in shots and 5-0 in corner kicks as Nebraska controlled the pace of play.
The second half did not feature the same amount of goals as the first half.
The Cornhuskers continued to attack Rutgers' goal, but redshirt freshman goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer held strong, saving shot after shot in the second half. Bodmer ended with seven saves in the second half.
Nebraska continued exerting control on the game, taking 10 more shots and five more corner kicks than the Knights in the second half.
Rutgers had a scoring chance in the final 5 minutes of the match when junior forward Gia Girman chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, but it bounced just left of the net. That was the last real chance either team saw, and the game finished in a draw.
Though she allowed 2 goals, Bodmer had a career day in goal for the Knights as she recorded a career-high nine saves in the match.
Though Rutgers could not get the road victory, it played hard against a good Cornhuskers team and earned a point in the Big Ten standings.
The Knights now look ahead to Sunday when they continue their three-game stretch of road games against Iowa. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. and be broadcasted on Big Ten Plus.
For more updates on the Rutgers women's soccer team, follow @TargumSports on X.
To view more of Camden Markel's work, follow @CamdenMarkel on X.
