No. 19 Rutgers women’s soccer defeats MSU 3-1

On Thursday, the 19th ranked women’s soccer team defeated Michigan State 3-1 at the Rutgers club sports field. After trailing the visitors at halftime, the Scarlet Knights dominated after the break to improve to 3-1-0 on the season. The Spartans moved to 1-2-1 after the 3-1 loss.

The Spartans took the lead when Samantha Sklarski scored a goal that was assisted by Danielle Stephan in the 41st minute of the game. In the second half, Rutgers tied the game in the 48th minute as senior Amirah Ali scored her third goal of the season off an assist from freshman Sara Brocious.

In the 73rd minute of the game, the Scarlet Knights took the lead for good on an own goal by MSU off a corner kick. Soon after in the 76th minute, Nneke Moneme put the game away with an unassisted goal, her first of the season.

Rutgers now sits atop the Big Ten standings with a 3-1 record along with Penn State, whom they beat in the season opener, and Wisconsin. They’ll host Ohio State on Sunday March 7 and will be set to kickoff at 11 a.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men, who host Michigan at 2-0-0 at 2 p.m.