Top seeded Rutgers women’s soccer advanced to the Big Ten championship game with a 2-0 win over defending champion and No. 5 seed Iowa (12-6-2; 5-4-1) on Thursday. The Scarlet Knights, ranked No. 4 nationally in this week’s coaches poll, have won 13 consecutive games to improve to 17-2-0 this season.
It was a fairly even first half that saw both teams register just two shots apiece in the opening frame. Rutgers was unable to generate consistent pressure on the Hawkeyes and the game was scoreless at the half.
Head coach Mike O’Neill made a strategic decision to sit First Team All-Big Ten performers Frankie Tagliaferri, Amirah Ali and Riley Tiernan the last several minutes of the first half.