Central Upsets Rutgers 1-0 to Advance to Second Round of the NCAA Tournament
Erica Bardes score the game-winner with 90 seconds left to play.
The Central Connecticut women's soccer team upset the four-seeded Rutgers 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night in Piscataway, NJ. Junior Erica Bardes scored the game-winner off a deep shot in the 88th minute sending the ball over the Knight's keeper to give Central the win. Sophomore keeper Amanda McQuillan had 10 saves in the net for the Blue Devils.
The win marks the second women's soccer victory in a NCAA Tournament game. CCSU improves to 13-4-4 on the season and will face the winner of Georgetown and West Virginia next weekend.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 1, Rutgers 0
Records: Central Connecticut (13-4-4), Rutgers (15-4-2)
Location: Yurcak Field - Piscataway, NJ
COACH QUOTE | POST GAME INTERVIEWS
"It was a great goal," said head coach Mick D'Arcy. "You know at that stage of the game it's going to be the game-winner. Tremendous performance, I'm so proud of all the players and the staff."
KEY MOMENTS
- Roma McLaughlin took a free kick just outside the box that bounced all of the post right to Jenna Rae Covello, but her rebound shot was just wide.
- Erica Bardes tried to take advantage of a free kick opportunity taking a deep shot from just inside midfield that was saved by the Knight's keeper with 90 seconds until halftime.
- At the 71st minute, Ali Amirah missed a penalty kick for the Knights.
- Erica Bardes scored the game winner with 1:42 left in the game off a deep shot in the top right corner of the box.
NUMBER TO KNOW
2 - Central earned its second NCAA Tournament win.
NOTES
- The game-winner was the fifth goal of the season for Bardes.
- McQuillan posted her fifth shutout of the season making 10 saves on 18 shots faced.
- The last time Central advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament was in 2003 with a 1-0 win over Boston College.
UP NEXT
Central Connecticut plays the winner of Georgetown vs. West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday Nov. 22.
