Sports
Middletown Native Leads Rutgers Field Hockey in Pair of Close Wins
Danielle Freshnock had the only goal in a 1-0 win over Drexel, and was one of three players to score shootout goals in a 3-2 win over Villanova.
A Middletown native propelled the Rutgers University field hockey to a pair of victories in heroic fashion last week.
Senior Danielle Freshnock was one of three players to score in a shootout to give the Scarlet Knights a 3-2 win over Villanova for their first Big East victory of the season on Friday.
Two days later, she scored the only goal in Rutgers 1-0 win over Drexel.
On Friday, Villanova scored the first two goals of the game. Rutgers junior Sophie Wright (Devizes, United Kingdom) put the Scarlet Knights on the board 22 minutes, 41 seconds into the game.
Freshman Sofia Walia (Surrey, British Columbia) tied the game for Rutgers with just over five minutes left in regulation to force overtime.
After two scoreless overtimes, the game went into a shootout where Freshnock, senior Laura Rose (Washington Township) and freshman Ashpal Kaur Bhogal (Leeds, England) scored in the shootout. Freshman goalie Shevaun Hayes (Melbourne, Australia) allowed just one shootout goal.
Freshnock’s goal against No. 16 Drexel gave Rutgers its first win over a ranked opponent since August of last year when the Scarlet Knights defeated No. 19 Albany, according to scarletknights.com.
Her goal came less than three minutes into the second half. She now has two goals for the season.
Hayes made a career-high nine saves in the shutout victory.
Rutgers is 6-5 overall, 1-2 in conference play.
TWO-TIME HONOR ROLL STUDENT: Senior forward Jonelle Filigno was named to the American Athletic Conference’s Weekly Honor Roll for her two goals in the women’s soccer team’s 3-2 win over Memphis on Friday. It is the second time this year she’s been named to the conference’s honor roll.
It was her first two-goal performance this season, bringing her to seven for the season. She is tied with junior Stefanie Schulz, of South Hackensack, for the team lead, according to scarletknights.com.
Schulz also scored in the win over Memphis. The Scarlet Knights are 9-2-1 overall, 2-1 in the conference. They remained No. 26 in the RPI when the rankings were released on Monday.
Rutgers returns to the field on Thursday against Houston.
Sunday’s conference game against Southern Methodist is part of Daddy-Daughter Day, where fans can purchase two tickets, a mini-soccer ball and a water bottle for $16.
WIN ONE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY: The men’s soccer team celebrated its 75th anniversary with a shutout win to move above .500 in conference play.
Sophomore Michael Taintor scored the lone goal in the 64th minute, with an assist from sophomore Mael Corboz, of Green Brook. Freshman goalie David Greczek, of Fairfield, made four saves.
The game was preceded by a 75th anniversary banquet, so several former Scarlet Knights’ players and alumni were in attendance to see the victory.
Rutgers improved to 5-5-1 overall, and 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play.
BIG WEEK FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM: Rutgers travels to Louisville Thursday night for a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN.
The Cardinal remains undefeated at 5-0 overall, 1-0 in American Athletic Conference play. Louisville is currently ranked No. 8 in the nation in both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls.
Rutgers is 4-1, 1-0, coming off a 55-52 triple overtime win at Southern Methodist, a game Rutgers led 21-7 in the second quarter before an odd series of events and a questionable touchdown call knotted the game at 35-35 to force overtime. Justin Goodwin eventually ran in the game-winning touchdown from 17 yards out, his third score of the day.
Louisville defeated Temple, 30-7, on Saturday, and has not allowed more than 13 points in a single game this season.
Thursday night’s game kicks off at 7:30.
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