Rutgers Women's Soccer Splits First Two Conference Games

In its first week as a ranked team, the Rutgers University women’s soccer team went 1-1 in the first two conference games of the season.

The Scarlet Knights opened the conference slate on Friday with a 1-0 win over Cincinnati behind senior Jonelle Filigno’s game-winning goal. According to scarletknights.com, it was Filigno’s 16th career game-winning goal, giving her the program’s record. For the season, she has five goals.

Two days later, South Brunswick’s Jessica Puchalski, a freshman, scored the only goal in the Scarlet Knights’ 4-1 loss to Louisville. It was her second goal of the season.

Earlier in the week, Rutgers was ranked No. 12 in the initial NCAA Ratings Index Percentage (RPI), a key component used by the NCAA tournament selection committee. After going .500 for the week, Rutgers is 8-2-1 for the season. The next set of rankings is due out Monday.

THRILLING VICTORIES: The men’s soccer team and the field hockey team picked up a couple of one goal victories this week.

On Saturday, the men's soccer team defeated Memphis, 1-0, behind a goal from Watchung Hills native Erik Sa. It was the freshman’s first career goal, and came in the 72nd minute, according to scarletknights.com.

The Scarlet Knights are now 1-1 in American Athletic Conference play this year, and are 4-41 overall.

On Sunday, the field hockey team edged Lafayette, 2-1, behind a game-winner from Egg Harbor Township native Katie Champion. The sophomore hit the game winner with just over three minutes left in the game, according to scarletknights.com. It was Champion’s second goal this season.

The other game goal in the win over Lafayette came courtesy freshman Sarah Regn, of Shamong. That was her second goal of the year.

The Scarlet Knights are now 4-5 for the season, and 0-2 in conference play, with losses to Temple and UConn.