Rutgers advances to the Elite Eight with tough win over TCU

Rutgers women’s soccer advances in the NCAA Tournament with win over TCU.

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It was certainly a sweet Sunday for Rutgers women’s soccer, who chopped their way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament with a Sunday win on penalty kicks over TCU.

Rutgers will play Arkansas either this Friday or Sunday at Yurcak Field. Date and time yet to be announced.

Playing in front a large crowd and on their home field, Rutgers came out the gate flying and were rewarded in the 18th minute when Amirah Ali scored a beautiful goal. The senior’s right-footed effort from 10 yards out was perfectly placed past a diving Lauren Kellett, the Big XII goalkeeper of the year.

TCU would take control of the match after the Rutgers goal, dominating possession for long spells and looking the more dangerous team on several occasions. The visitors would get level in the 85th minute via Camryn Lancaster, who did well to carry the ball 40 yards into the Rutgers penalty area before unleashing a solid drive past Megan McClelland in Rutgers goal.

 

Lancaster was tremendous on the afternoon and one of the best players on the field for either team, showing great movement forward and confidence on the dribble.

After going scoreless in two overtime periods, both teams made their first four penalty kick attempts before the goalkeepers took turns making saves. McClelland saved the fifth and sixth efforts from TCU, her heroics being matched by Kellett who saved the same penalty attempts for TCU.

McClelland then stopped the seventh attempt from the spot as well, setting up Allison Lowery to grab the winner when she converted her penalty kick attempt.

Rutgers has not advanced this far in an NCAA Tournament since the program made the Final Four in 2015.