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No. 3 Rutgers field hockey set yet another program record on Friday as they won its sixth Big Ten regular season game, the most since joining the conference in 2014. The Scarlet Knights defeated Michigan State (7-8; 0-8) by the final score of 3-0 to finish at 6-2 in Big Ten play. In addition, with a 14-3 overall record, it’s the most wins in a season under 10th year head coach Meredith Civico. The 14 wins also ties for the second most ever in a single season in program history. RU has ten victories over ranked foes this season, setting another program record.
On a day when Rutgers celebrated its five “Super Seniors”, it was sophomore Bridy Molyneaux who led the scoring attack with the program’s first hat trick since 2017. Her first goal came in the first quarter and was assisted by Guillermina Causarano. In the third quarter, Molyneaux scored two more times within 45 seconds of one another. She made it 2-0 off an assist from Katie Larmour and then sealed the 3-0 victory and her hat trick off a rebound of her own shot.
“It was awesome,” Molyneaux exclaimed. “It was really cool to get that opportunity and to score some goals and help my team. Now we’re looking for a win on Sunday to end the regular season strong and keep it rolling heading toward the Big Ten Tournament.”
Gianna Glatz and Sophia Howard combined to deliver the seventh shutout of the season for RU. Glatz had one save in over 50 minutes of action and then Howard finished out the fourth quarter by making a career high four saves to preserved the clean sheet.
Prior to the game, Rutgers honored the five seniors who returned this season due to an additional year of eligibility granted during COVID-19. Gianna Mancini, Kassidy Shetler, Kerrie Burns, Gianna Glatz and Katie Larmour have made a tremendous impact on the program and have an opportunity to close out their careers with a special season for the Scarlet Knights.
“Senior Day is always a very emotional game,” head coach Meredith Civico explained. “We were able to find a way to execute and get it done. Bridy coming in and scoring three goals was huge, I’m really happy for her. It was just a really great team win, everyone contributing and playing hard for each other.”
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Sunday’s regular season finale against Lafayette will honor the traditional senior class that includes Noelle Bessette, Olivia Drea, Tayla Parkes, Milena Redlingshoefer, Abby Regn and Liz Romano. Lafayette will attempt to play the role of spoiler and the Leopards are battled tested. They’re 12-4 this season and 1-2 against Big Ten foes, including a win over Indiana and double OT loss to Ohio State.
Rutgers will then open the postseason by hosting the Big Ten Tournament on November 4-7. The full bracket for that event will be determined on Sunday once the conference regular season is over. Even so, with No. 7 Penn State’s 3-2 overtime win over No. 2 Michigan on Friday night, the Scarlet Knights have clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. They finished in a tie with PSU for second place at 6-2 but won the tiebreaker due to a 1-0 victory in Happy Valley this season.
Rutgers has a tremendous opportunity to play for the program’s first ever Big Ten title on its home field next week. However, they’ll look to close out Senior Day weekend with a win over Lafayette on Sunday first.