On Monday, Rutgers women’s soccer officially added a dynamic forward to the mix for next season in Gia Vicari. For a program that at times struggled in the offensive third, the addition of Vicari is big news.
The Georgetown transfer is a graduate student who will use her final year of eligibility at Piscataway. She provides a boost offensively as she has led the Hoyas in scoring over the past three seasons.
In 2022, Vicari had six goals and four assists as Georgetown finished with a 15-2-5 record. The Pennsylvania native also earned Second Team All-East Region honors from United Soccer Coaches and All-Big East First Team honors. Adding Vicari to the roster has already created plenty of excitement at Rutgers.
“We are thrilled with the addition of Gia to the 2023 class,” said head coach Mike O’Neill said in a statement released by the athletic department “She will boast an already talented incoming group with a high level of ability and strong character. Gia’s success and experience playing at the highest level on the national stage propels the culture of our program. We are excited and looking forward to her coming “On the Banks” and having an immediate impact, both on and off the field.”
During her career with the Hoyas, Vicari recorded 67 points in 76 games. She has thrived in clutch situations, as 11 of her 25 career goals have been game-winners. While she had plenty of programs to choose from, what stood out to her about Rutgers was the culture.
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“I chose Rutgers because of the people, the culture, and the program’s ambition matching my own,” Vicari said in a statement. “I wanted to be able to compete at a high level and push myself athletically while finding an academic program that was flexible and applicable to various career opportunities. I genuinely think that Rutgers will help me achieve my goals and support me in future endeavors.
The Baldwin school product will join a Rutgers team that finished last season with a 13-5-2 record. With the addition of Vicari, that record should improve. The Scarlet Knights have high expectations and adding the 2020 Big East leading scorer creates a brighter future.
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