Kicking it: Rutgers soccer teams with a big weekend
It was a big afternoon for Rutgers soccer, with the women’s team gutting out a 1-0 win against Wisconsin in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament. The men’s team battled through a tight first half to ease out a 4-0 win over Ohio State in their Big Ten season finale.
The win for Rutgers women was a big step for the top-seeded Scarlet Knights to secure an NCAA Tournament berth. Rutgers finished the regular season 15-2, winning all 10 Big Ten games and soaring to a current No. 6 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
They will face No. 5 Iowa on November 4 at Yurcak Field, the Hawkeyes the only lower seed to win this weekend in the tournament’s first round.
On the men’s side, Rutgers convincing victory snaps a two-game losing streak and gives the Scarlet Knights some momentum heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers is now the sixth seed and will face No. 3 Indiana on the road on Sunday.
A goal and two assists by Jackson Temple and a Colin Beasley brace paced Rutgers to the win.
The Scarlet Knights finished the season 9-5-2 (3-4-1 Big Ten).
“We’re really proud of the group,” head coach Jim McElderry said after the game. “It’s tough coming into these knockout type games, and there is pressure on the guys because they felt if we didn’t get the result, if we didn’t qualify for the conference playoffs, it would be a disappointing season for us. I was really proud of their approach. Ohio State has some excellent players, so for us to put that performance together – some guys really stepped up.”
