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Competing in the East division bracket of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, the no. 3 seed Rutgers women’s soccer team defeated no. 6 seed Michigan State 1-0 in double overtime. The Scarlet Knights advance to face regional host and no. 2 seed Ohio State on Sunday, April 11
In the 104th minute of the contest, two-time All-American Amirah Ali scored the golden goal off a header as freshman Allison Lowrey delivered the a beautiful cross into the box for the assist.
AMIRAH ALI IN DOUBLE OT‼️ The golden goal master does it again! Amirah nets a header off an assist from Allison Lowrey to advance #RUWS to the next round of the Big Ten Tournament!! pic.twitter.com/c2OwI2i3kP
— Rutgers Women's Soccer (@RUWSoccer) April 8, 2021
Ali netted her program record ninth overtime goal of her career and is now 4th all-time with 13 career gamewinners.
Rutgers pressured the Spartans the entire game, holding a 17-5 shot advantage and 8-2 edge with shots on goal. RU also held a 4-1 advantage with corner kicks. However, credit MSU goalkeeper Lauren Kozal for making 7 saves before succumbing in the second overtime.
The Scarlet Knights defense has now held opponents to single digits in shots on goal in all 12 contests and this was the 8th time they held a foe to single digits in total shots. Junior goalkeeper Meagan McClelland produced her fifth shutout of the season and made two saves on the day.
Rutgers (7-2-3) beat Ohio State (7-1-3) by the final score of 2-1 at Yurcak Field on March 7 this season. Allison Lowrey scored in the first half before the Buckeyes tied it early in the second half. A pair of freshmen produced the game winning goal for RU, as Sara Brocious scored off an assist from Samantha Kroeger. OSU actually held a 13-8 advantage in shots and 5-4 in shots on goal, but McClelland made 4 saves to help secure the victory.
Due to the global pandemic the Big Ten Tournament created East and West brackets based on the divisions used in football. The issue is that the top three teams during Big Ten play all came from the East. So Ohio State and Rutgers are seeded in a way that they are meeting in the quarterfinals rather than the semifinals. Regardless, this game is a chance for the Scarlet Knights to extend its run towards a school first Big Ten Championship.
The rematch between OSU and RU with a trip to the tournament semifinals on the line will be live streamed on the Big Ten Network+ with a start time to be determined.