PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey (3-0) stayed unbeaten on the season by knocking off No. 18 St. Joe’s (3-1) by a 3-2 score Sunday afternoon. A back-and-forth affair saw RU goals from Linde van Schaik, Daphne Groothuis and Nikki Profita. Gianna Glatz made seven saves for the Scarlet Knights. SJU led 12-9 in shots and 5-4 in corners.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rutgers scored first, executing perfectly on a corner. Linde van Schaik inserted the ball to the top, where it was stick-stopped for Daphne Groothuis. She sent a pass back to the inserter, as van Schaik was waiting at the back post to slam it home.
That 1-0 lead held until halftime. 14 minutes into the half, the Hawks leveled the score off a corner, deflecting in a shot at the back post.
The score was leveled for just 66 seconds. RU quickly had an answer, earning a penalty stroke that Daphne Groothuis converted to go back in front 2-1.
Again St. Joe’s would tie the score. A goal from Emily Henry made the score 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining, setting up a dramatic finish.
With 10 minutes to play, senior vice-captain Nikki Profita had the decisive tally of the day. The initial shot by Groothuis was saved and Profita was perfectly positioned to knock in the rebound for the game winner.
QUOTABLE
HEAD COACH MEREDITH CIVICO
“This was a really good win. We knew that St. Joe’s was going to be the hardest test that we had faced so far. They are a really good team with some really good players. We knew this would require a big mental and physical effort. I thought the team played really well as a team today. They responded to what St. Joe’s did really well. Our team was right back at it after the goals they conceded, and that’s the mentality it takes to win. I’m really happy with their effort today.”
SENIOR NIKKI PROFITA
“This was a huge win for us today. This team this year is so different and winning this game really proves that. Since last November, we knew that we wanted to make a bigger impact. This is one of the games that we happened to lose last year. We knew this year this was one we really wanted to win. And I think the way we won it was such a big step forward and something we took a lot of pride in.”
POSTGAME NOTES
- The goal was Profita’s first of her career.
- Daphne Groothuis now leads the team with three goals, six assists and 10 points on the year.
- She has had at least one goal and one assist in every game this season.
- The goal by van Schaik was the 18th of the senior’s career.
- Rutgers is 3-0 on the season for the second straight season.
- This was the fourth ranked victory for RU in the last two seasons.
- Rutgers is now 19-8 lifetime against St. Joe’s, its most victories against any one opponents.
NEXT UP
Rutgers hosts two more home games next weekend to conclude a five-game homestand to begin the year. RU hosts Cornell Friday at 3 p.m. and No. 10 Princeton Sunday at 11 a.m.
