Rutgers Women’s Soccer Topples #14 Northwestern In Yet Another Overtime Victory

Something special is happening with the Rutgers women’s soccer team, as it continued its incredible run of consecutive overtime games on Thursday night. For a seventh straight contest in which the team hasn’t lost, the Scarlet Knights played into extra time, winning for the fourth time in dramatic fashion with a golden goal! Star forward Amirah Ali produced her fourth game winning score of her sophomore campaign and Rutgers picked up its first ranked win of the season, defeating #14 Northwestern (8-3-2; 2-3-1) 1-0 in the extra session.

The victory came on a night when a rarity occurred, as the Scarlet Knights were outshot 13-3 in the second half and 20-8 overall in the contest. True freshman goalkeeper Meagan McClelland continues to grow more confident in the net, recording a career high five saves for a second straight game. After McClelland and the backline of Rutgers allowed seven goals during a five game stretch in September, the group has given up just one goal in the last theee contests. McClelland, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, produced a clutch save in overtime to keep Rutgers alive on Thursday night.

Northwestern came into the game having only allowed six goals so far this season. However, they had yet to face Amirah Ali. She found the back of the net for the ninth time this season, which is tops in the Big Ten, winning the game for Rutgers in the 97th minute with a shot from right inside the 18 yard box off of a rebound from a failed clearance.

The victory launched Rutgers (8-1-4; 4-0-2) into a first place tie in the Big Ten Standings with Nebraska (8-3-3; 4-0-2). The two teams tied 1-1 on September 14th at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights are now 4-0-4 in overtime matches this season. There are five conference games remaining, as Rutgers continues its quest to win its first Big Ten regular season title ever. They’ll host Illinois (8-5; 3-3) this Sunday at 1 p.m.