Oct. 15, 2015
Piscataway, N.J.
Yurcak Field
No. 25 Rutgers 2 (11-2-2 overall, 4-2-2 B1G), Ohio State 0 (8-4-3, 3-3-2 B1G)
Attendance: 449
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Ohio State women’s soccer team fell to No. 25 Rutgers, 2-0, Thursday night at Yurcak Field. With the loss, the Buckeyes fall to 8-4-3, 3-3-2 in the Big Ten, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 11-2-2, 4-2-2 in conference play.
Chances were hard to come by in a back-and-forth first half between two quality defensive teams. Madison Tiernan had the first good chance for Rutgers in the 30th minute when she took a shot from 30 yards out that narrowly sailed over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Nikki Walts curled in a shot from 20 yards on the left wing that just missed the upper right corners as the match remained scoreless.
The in the 39th minute, Adora Moneme gave the Scarlet Knights the lead when she finished from 12 yards in the center of the box after Erin Smith assisted on a ball played in from the left wing.
Nichelle Prince had an opportunity to knot the score in the 41st minute but her strike from the top of the box was blasted right into the arms of Rutgers goalkeeper Casey Murphy as the Scarlet Knights took the lead into the half.
Rutgers held a 5-4 lead in shots, including 2-1 on frame, over the first 45 minutes.
Walts had another chance for the Buckeyes in the 55th minute on a free kick from 20 yards but Murphy again was able to make the save.
Rutgers almost doubled its lead in the 68th minute when Jennifer Andresen broke free for a right-footed strike from the top of the box but Ohio State goalkeeper Devon Kerr, who replaced Jillian McVicker after halftime, ranged far to her right to dive to deflect the shot wide right.
The Scarlet Knights then tacked on another in the 82nd minute when Colby Ciarrocca snuck in behind the Buckeye defense, beat Kerr and flicked it past a pair of Buckeye defenders to make it a 2-0 game.
The Buckeyes continued to press on and create chances late but were unable to find the back of the net as Ohio State’s unbeaten streak was snapped at three.
For the game, Rutgers outshot the Buckeyes, 12-7, including 5-3 on goal.
Ohio State squares off with Indiana in Bloomington at 1 p.m. Sunday.
