Rutgers Field Hockey Off to Flying 10-0 Start

Rutgers field hockey is off to one of the best starts in program history. The Scarlet Knights defeated No. 8 Maryland 3-2 on Thursday night to improve to 10-0 on the season.

The victory was the fifth this year for Rutgers against a ranked opponent, and first win against a top-10 ranked opponent.

Said Head Coach Meredith Civico in a Rutgers press release: “I’m so proud of the way the team kept fighting. There’s a belief with this group unlike any other that I’ve ever known. They just keep going no matter what the situation is, they just don’t stop. That’s evident in the way we won this game in shootouts, it’s really incredible.”

Julianne Kopecc and Guillermina Causarano each tallied goals for Rutgers as RU stormed back from an early 1-0 deficit.

Maryland would tie the game on Maci Bradford's breakaway toward the net in the 38th minute. The game would remain deadlocked the rest of regulation and into overtime.

It was not until the 80th minute in a penalty shootout, that Paulina Niklaus netted the game winner when she swerved to her right and slapped the ball past the outstretched arms of Maryland's goaltender.

The victory was the fourth in overtime this year for Rutgers. Of note, the 10 victories for Rutgers this season marks the fourth time the club has notched ten wins in a single season since 2018.

Rutgers will host Michigan in Piscataway next Friday.