Riley Tiernan made Rutgers’ final penalty shot after two periods of extra time and the Scarlet Knights beat Arkansas, 2-2 (4-2 on penalties) to go to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Final Four.
The Razorbacks’ season ended as its most successful in school history. Arkansas had never made the Elite Eight before Friday and finished the season with a record of 19-5, including a 9-1 mark in SEC play.
Anna Podojil missed the first attempt for Arkansas and Becci Fluchel followed with a make for Rutgers. Arkansas pulled one back on turn two with Kaelee Van Gundy scoring, but Amirah Ali matched her. On turn three, Haley VanFossen missed off the post for the Razorbacks, but Megan McClelland, Rutgers’ goalie, missed, as well. On turn four, Parker Goins scored, but Rutgers needed just one more to clinch. Tiernan was the hero.
The teams went to a penalty shootout after neither team could find the back of the net at the conclusion of two 10-minute frames of extra time.
Riley Tiernan opened the scoring just two minutes into the game as the Scarlet Knights advanced up the field quickly on a counter-attack after Parker Goins hit the post 28 seconds in and Kiley Dulaney’s shot was saved by Megan McClelland.
The Razorbacks rallied quickly. Anna Podojil scored her 16th goal of the season in the eighth minute and notched her third of the year in the 15th.
Rutgers answered with two minutes left in the first half when Amirah Ali tied things in the 44th.
The last best chance for Arkansas in regulation came in the 86th when Goins’ low shot went down the middle and McClelland came up with it.