The buildup was huge. A game at #7 West Virginia, a perennial powerhouse, who received a #2 NCAA tournament seed seemed premature considering the Scarlet Knights had only lost two games all season. Rutgers had posted 15 shutouts in 20 games entering the match, leading the country in lowest goals against average. They had to face a tough Mountaineers squad in Morgantown in the NCAA tournament’s second round Friday.
The temperature was very cold, but the bigger issue was that the field was wet which made the ball itself rather heavy and the turf slick. As most expected, Rutgers did their best to keep 9 or even 10 players behind the ball at all times waiting for a counter attack.