The no. 19 Rutgers field hockey team won in dramatic fashion on Friday late afternoon, defeating Indiana 3-2 on a last minute goal. The host Scarlet Knights trailed 2-1 as late as midway through the third quarter, but two goals from Kerrie Burns led RU to victory.
Rutgers scored first, Clayre Smith registered a shot and Kassidy Shetler fired the rebound into the back of the net just 12 minutes into the game.
GOAL! Kassidy Shetler knocks the ball in to give #RUFH a 1-0 lead over Indiana! pic.twitter.com/rNdgbh0f1r
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) October 11, 2019
Indiana didn’t trail for long and scored twice in a four minute period to take a 2-1 lead with just under 12 minutes left to play in the first half.
Rutgers tied the game after Milena Redlingshoefer shot from the corner and Burns deflected it into the back of the net.
Here's the goal from Kerrie Burns, a deflection off a corner shot from Milena Redlinshoefer to tie the game at 2-2 for #RUFH pic.twitter.com/c7Mp1nCAWc
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) October 11, 2019
As time was running out and just 52 seconds remaining in regulation, Burns redirected a pass from Austyn Cuneo for the winning goal.
Here's a look at the game-winning goal, as Kerrie Burns scores her second goal of the game in the final minute to give #RUFH a 3-2 win over Indiana! pic.twitter.com/N8YsojejFA
— Rutgers Field Hockey (@RUFieldHockey) October 11, 2019
Head coach Meredith Civico emphasized how important of a victory this was for her team, saying “This was a must-win game for us. We knew it was going to be a fast paced, high-tempo style out of Indiana. We did a nice job sticking to our game plan, trusting that plan and finding a way to play our hockey and win the game. Now, we have to recover, rest and prepare for Sunday against Northwestern.”
On the play of Burns, Civico said “Kerrie really trained so well all week. She’s somebody who wants to have an impact on the game and wants to get the ball, and when she does she’s able to create. We put her up front during a couple of spells during this game and she was able to create some penalty corner opportunities, and then execute on those opportunities. She was fantastic for us today, along with Melina Redlinshoefer in the midfield and Kassidy Shetler on the forward line.”
Rutgers (6-5; 1-2) outshot Indiana 20-5 and held an 11-3 edge in penalty corners, as they’ve now beaten the Hoosiers (4-8; 1-4)) three consecutive times.
The Scarlet Knights had the second toughest strength of schedule in the nation entering this game. It won’t get much easier either, as four of the remaining five Big Ten opponents they’ll play are ranked as well. Up next, Rutgers hosts no. 8 Northwestern this Sunday at 2 p.m. in a game that will air live on BTN.
FIRST EVER PRIDE GAME for @RUAthletics ️ ️
— Rutgers Leadership Dev. & Strategic Partnerships (@RULeadDev) October 11, 2019
Let’s go @RUFieldHockey
Thank you @rusjelgbt for helping us make this a successful, educational event for all of R fans and student-athletes! #RFamily #GoRU #GetYourJerseyOn #PrideGame pic.twitter.com/Wd7I8MmXd3