PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 7, 2011) – Freshman forward Stef Scholz (South Hackensack, N.J.) broke through in the 55th minute, pushing the Rutgers women’s soccer team (7-6-1, 2-4-1) to a 1-0 win over DePaul (3-10-1, 1-5-1) Friday night at Yurcak Field.

“I’m happy for Stef Scholz, for her to finally break through,” said head coach Glenn Crooks. “This week, she and the rest of the attacking players worked on finishing and it showed. We put them in situations that have been presented in games and finished and finished and finished. She worked at it, and it paid off.”  

Cassie Inacio (Manalapan, N.J.) started the sequence, saving the ball from going out of bounds on the sideline with a back tap to junior forward Stefanee Pace (Kearny, N.J.). Pace served a terrific, arching ball into the box to a streaking Scholz. As DPU netminder Megan Pyrz came out to challenge, Scholz booted the shot into the bottom right of the net.

It was the second goal of the season for Scholz, and the first game-winner of her young career. Inacio recorded her first point since scoring a goal against Fordham on Aug. 29.   

Junior goalkeeper Jessica Janosz (Ringwood, N.J.) earned her first ever appearance and start in net for the Scarlet Knights. The netminder made seven saves in the shutout effort.

“Clean sheet,” said Crooks when asked to describe the play of Janosz. “To post a shutout in her first game is tremendous. Jess has been very sharp in training. She deserved this opportunity and she means a lot to this team.”  

Janosz withstood a flurry of shots in the waning minutes, making a diving save on a Rachel Pitman shot with four minutes to play.

The keeper also made a leaping save just before the half, as DePaul midfielder Michelle Scandora blasted a shot from eight yards out. Janosz punched the ball over her head, it hit the post and bounced out of danger, preserving the 0-0 tie.   

Senior midfielder Ashley Medcalf (Waipahu, Hawaii) nearly scored in the 31st minute, as she came streaking through the box and headed a service from Scholz just high of the net.

Rutgers wraps up its homestand Sunday, Oct. 9, as the Scarlet Knights host RV Notre Dame at noon. The game can be seen live on RVision.

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