PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Sept. 9, 2011) – A score in the 14^th minute by redshirt junior Stefanee Pace (Kearny, N.J.) would hold up as the Rutgers women’s soccer team (4-2) blanked Yale (1-1-2), 1-0, Friday night at Yurcak Field.  

 

“At times when we remained composed, (I was happy with the attack),” said head coach Glenn Crooks. “But we need to keep the ball better. We want to be a possession-oriented team that decides when we are scoring and right now, we are not that. We need to dictate the tempo to be who we want to be.”  

 

After Rutgers controlled the ball for much of the early going, Pace dribbled down the right sideline, beating two Yale defenders to get inside the box. The midfielder floated a ball above Yale goalkeeper Adele Jackson-Gibson’s head, finding the bottom left of the net to give RU a early 1-0 advantage that would stand.

 

Senior Ashley Medcalf (Waipahu, Hawaii) nearly scored off a corner in the 57^th minute. Julie Lancos (Belford, N.J.) served the ball to the far side, where Medcalf headed it towards the net, but the ball hit the post and bounced over the goal.

 

Sophomore Jonelle Filigno (Mississauga, ON, Canada) almost came away with a goal with 28 minutes to play, earning a one-on-one with Yale center back Torrey Leroy. The forward was able to blast a shot on goal, but Jackson-Gibson made the save.

 

Freshman Kristen Siano (Hong Kong) drew a free kick with 10 minutes to go, giving the Scarlet Knights an opportunity just to the right of the box from 15 yards out, but RU could not find the back of the net.  

 

Junior goalkeeper Emmy Simpkins (Concord, N.C.) made two save on five shots for the shutout win. The RU back line also made many key blocks in preserving the shutout.

 

“Morgan Kennedy (Wall, N.J.) was the MVP back of this game,” said Crooks. “Especially in the first half, (when) she blocked three or four shots. She played exceptionally well and really kept us in this game.”  

 

The Scarlet Knights will be back on the field Sunday, Sept. 11 for another Ivy League matchup against Dartmouth. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

 

Game Notes

*Simpkins recorded her seventh career shutout. The junior breaks into the top 10 for career shutouts. She needs just one more to tie for seventh all-time.

*This was Stefanee Pace’s second goal in three games. The midfielder matched her goal output from a season ago and doubled her game-winning goals (two).

*This marked the fifth game-winning goal of Pace’s career. She needs just one more to tie for ninth in the RU record book.

*This marked the fifth different starting lineup in six games.

*Rutgers holds a 23-1 record since 2008 when taking a lead into the half, including a perfect 4-0 mark this season.