Rutgers women’s soccer advances to Big Ten Semifinals with 1-0 victory over Indiana

The no. 16/14 Rutgers women’s soccer team advanced to the Big Ten semifinals for the first time since 2016 with a 1-0 victory over Indiana (8-9-2; 4-5-2) on Sunday afternoon. The 2nd seeded Scarlet Knights won the game off an own goal in the 28th minute from the Hoosiers after a cross from Taylor Aylmer created the play.

Surviving tournament play is about winning however possible and not worrying about style points. Ask no. 1 seed Wisconsin, who lost to no. 8 seed Purdue on Sunday.

The Scarlet Knights held an 11-6 edge in shots, including seven on goal. Credit Indiana goalkeeper Bethany Kopel for making seven saves and keeping the game close. The Hoosiers didn’t get any shots on goal, as Rutgers produced it’s 12th shutout of the season.

Rutgers (15-2-2; 8-2-1), the 2 seed, will take on 3 seeded Michigan (14-4-1; 8-2-1) on Friday, November 8th at 1:30 p.m. The Scarlet Knights defeated the then no. 16 Wolverines 1-0 on October 24th in Ann Arbor. The winner of that semifinal will play the winner of no. 4 seed Penn State (13-6-1; 8-3-0) vs. no. 8 seed Purdue (8-8-3; 3-6-2), who play the first contest of the day.

RU is the host of the Big Ten Tournament and have a great opportunity to win the school’s first ever Big Ten title in front of the home faithful on Yurcak Field. However, as head coach Mike O’Neill said on our podcast last week, they need to take it one day at a time.