No. 22 Rutgers women’s soccer earns 2-0 road win at No. 10 UConn

STORRS, Conn. (Via University of Connecticut) – First-half goals from Madison Tiernan and Brittany LaPlant and another clean sheet from goalkeeper Alana Jimenez helped No. 22 Rutgers women’s soccer earn a statement win Sunday at No. 10 UConn. The Scarlet Knights (3-0-1) topped the Huskies (3-1) at Joseph J. Marrone Stadium for their first ranked win of the season.

“I’m happy with the way the ladies came to play today,” said head coach Mike O’Neill. “It was a great team performance.

Tiernan got the scoring going for Rutgers in the 24th minute, finding the back of the net with a header on a corner kick from the left side. Freshman Nicole Whitley connected with Tiernan on the service for her team-leading third assist of the season.

Less than 10 minutes later, LaPlant cleaned up a rebound in the box on another RU corner attempt, scoring her second goal of the season. Sophomore Kenie Wright sent the ball into the crowd in front of goal before LaPlant finished the goal opportunity.

The Scarlet Knights have defeated the Huskies in three-straight meetings dating back to last season and have outscored UConn 8-0 in that stretch.

Jimenez made six saves for her second consecutive clean sheet, lowering her goals-against average to 0.47 on the year.

Rutgers returns to Yurcak Field on Friday, Sept. 2 against Georgetown for the start of a six-match home stretch. All remaining matches on the schedule for the Scarlet Knights will either stream live online via BTN Plus, or be carried on national television by Big Ten Network.

GAME NOTES

Rutgers topped its first ranked opponent of the season Sunday.
The Scarlet Knights won their third consecutive game over UConn, bringing the Huskies’ all-time advantage down to 16-5-4.
LaPlant and Tiernan are tied for the team lead with two goals this season. Both of Tiernan’s goals were game-winners.
Whitley registered her third assist of the year, which leads the team.
Tiernan and Whitley are now tied for the team lead with five points.
Visco logged the full-time for the fourth time this season, which leads the team. Also playing the full-time Sunday was Chantelle Swaby, Erin Smith, Jennifer Andresen, Tori Prager, and Wright.
Jimenez earned the first two clean sheets of her career over the weekend.