Rutgers Olympic Sports: Championship season is here

Men's Soccer   Season record: 5-9-1, 1-5-1 Big Ten

It has been a tough and disappointing opening season in the B1G for the Men's Soccer team.  The squad was 1-1 for the past week, topping Army 1-0 but losing to conference foe Ohio State 4-1.  Junior Mitchell Taintor moved to the front line against Army on Tuesday night and scored the game-winner in the 20th minute of play in the team's win over the Black Knights. Against the Buckeyes, the Knights were able to tie the game at 1-1 midway through the first half on leading scorer Jason Wright's eighth goal of the year.  The Buckeyes added the game-winner with 10 minutes left until the intermission and added in two insurance goals in the second stanza. The game against Maryland could have seeding implications for the Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament, and could determine whether the Knights get another game at home.

Women's Soccer   Season record: 11-4-1, 7-4-1 Big Ten

With one regular season game left, the Knights have tripped up in the last couple of weeks.  Three straight conference losses have Rutgers tied for fourth.  They play ninth place Ohio State in Columbus on Halloween.  This past weekend was one to forget as the team dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 12/20 Wisconsin and a 2-0 match to Minnesota.

Field Hockey  Season record: 7-9, 1-6 Big Ten

Field Hockey is in a three-way tie for seventh place in the conference.  The Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament is an eight team affair, and the game at home on Halloween may have implications on making the tournament and seeding. Rutgers won a non-con game against JMU, 2-1.  Jasmine Cole and Rachel Yaney scored for Scarlet Knights in that win.

Volleyball  Season record: 7-16, 0-10 Big Ten

Despite losing, the volleyball team took Maryland to the limit in two 5-set matches.  It was the first time in Big Ten competition that the team had gone to five sets.  Unlike most of the other fall sports, volleyball will be playing regular season matches well into November.  In the first match up with the Terps, sophomore middle Lauren Cloyd led the squad in kills with an individual season-high of 13. Freshman outside Meme Fletcher posted the sixth double-double of her rookie season with 12 kills and 11 digs.  Defensively, junior middle Mikaela Matthews registered a season-high 10 blocks. Junior libero Ali Schroeter paced the squad with 20 digs.

In the return match at home, middle Lauren Cloyd put up a career performance for RU, leading the team with a career-high 17 kills. Junior outside Alex Lassa recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs. Freshman setter Talia Holze added on a career-best of her own, putting up 23 assists on the night. On the defensive side, junior middle Eden Frazier blocked a total of five attacks from Maryland to pace the squad.  Ali Schroeter pulled up a team-high 19 digs in the match.

Cross Country

Both the men and women will wrap up their seasons at the Big Ten Championships this weekend.

Swimming & Diving

The women continue their opening meets of the season this weekend.

Special promotion for the Wagner meet