PISCATAWAY, NJ – Trying to keep its BIG EAST Tournament hopes alive, the Rutgers women’s soccer team (7-3-2, 3-2-1 BIG EAST) defeated Georgetown (8-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) 4-2 Oct. 5 at Yurcak Field in the Scarlet Knights’ final BIG EAST Mid-Atlantic Division match of the year.

The win was a critical one for the Scarlet Knights, who are fighting for a top-four finish in the Mid-Atlantic Division and an invitation to the BIG EAST Tournament. Currently, Rutgers (3-2-1), Villanova (3-1-1) and West Virginia (3-0-1) are tied for first place with 10 points, followed by Notre Dame (3-2) and Georgetown (3-2) with nine points apiece. Seton Hall (0-4-1) and Pittsburgh (0-5) round out the division.

In order for Rutgers to qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament, West Virginia needs to defeat Notre Dame (Oct. 6) or Georgetown (Oct. 9). Both matches will take place in Morgantown.

“Now we need some help,” third-year RU head coach Glenn Crooks said. “It’s a great win for us, and it’s too bad that we’re not in control of our own destiny. But, I think that the way we have played the last few weeks shows that we deserve a chance to play in the postseason.”

Georgetown got on the scoreboard first when Karin Ostrander converted Courtney Shaub’s pass at the top of the box, giving the Hoyas a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. RU evened the score when sophomore

all-American Carli Lloyd (Delran, NJ) headed in Danae Risoli’s (Hillsborough, NJ) perfect cross in the 16th minute. Lloyd, who has been bothered by a left foot injury, scored just 1:13 after entering the match as a substitute.

Sophomore Meghan Cameron (Succasunna, NJ) gave the Scarlet Knights a 2-1 lead in the 20th minute when she ran onto a ball up the right side from senior Shannon Evans (Saddle Brook, NJ) and beat GU goalkeeper Alexis George 1 v. 1. It was Cameron’s first goal of the season, playing in her second match of the year after suffering a stress fracture during preseason training. Lloyd scored again in the 47th minute on a penalty kick, and the RU lead grew to 4-1 when Risoli took a thru-ball from sophomore Courtney Hudson (Churchville, PA) and scored on a breakaway in the 58th minute.

Georgetown’s Elizabeth Roberti had her penalty kick stopped by RU goalkeeper Christine Caldwell (Wyckoff, NJ) in the 77th minute. Casey McCann scored the final goal for the Hoyas in the 82nd minute.

Caldwell made two saves in the victory (6-3-2).

With her two goals, Lloyd moved into a tie for fifth in career game-winning goals (seven), moved into a tie for sixth in career goals (23) and is now seventh in career points (57) at Rutgers.

Rutgers was rated eighth by Soccerbuzz and ninth by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in the Mid-Atlantic Region this week (Sept. 30). Georgetown was rated seventh in the same region by both groups.

Rutgers will play in-state rival No. 18 Princeton Tuesday, Oct. 8, in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament second-round match. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Princeton’s Love-Lourie Field (2,000).

Scoring By Periods:

1 2 Final
Georgetown 1 1 2
Rutgers 2 2 4

Scoring Summary:

6:07 GU Karin Ostrander (3) Courtney Shaub
15:27 RU Carli Lloyd (7) Danae Risoli
19:39 RU Meghan Cameron (1) Shannon Evans
46:50 RU Carli Lloyd
57:04 RU Danae Risoli (2) Courtney Hudson
81:24 GU Casey McCann Jessie Beers-Altman

Shots: Georgetown 9, Rutgers 19. Saves: Georgetown 7, Rutgers 4. Corner Kicks: Georgetown 4, Rutgers 5. Fouls: Georgetown 14, Rutgers 19. Offsides: Georgetown 1, Rutgers 5. Yellow Cards: Georgetown 1 (bench), Rutgers 0.