Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Overall Rank: #31
Conference Rank: #3 American
Rutgers Team Page
The 2012 campaign was another good one for Rutgers. They could not compete with the top teams in the Big East, but they did make the NCAA Tournament. There they beat Colgate before falling 6-1 at the hands of Virginia. The Scarlet Knights are in the American Athletic Conference now where they should have an easier time boosting their win total. Some of the tougher teams like Georgetown, Notre Dame and Marquette are gone and that can be good or bad for this Rutgers squad. The strength of the schedule is going to go down, but now Rutgers can seriously compete for a conference title.
2012 Record: 13-8-1, 5-5-1
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Glenn Crooks
Strengths:
With nine starters returning, Rutgers has a very experienced squad. Jonelle Filigno will once again be the star after tallying 15 goals and five assists as a junior. She has a knack for being in the right place and can finish with the best in the nation. Rachel Cole showed plenty of promise as a freshman, totaling three goals and two assists. Tricia DiPaolo, Cassie Inacio and Amy Pietrangelo are a few more experienced goal scorers who will help set up Filigno and take the pressure off of her by scoring themselves. Attacking oriented midfielder Madison Tiernan highlights a quality class of newcomers brought in by Coach Glenn Brooks. Offensively, the Scarlet Knights will be able to pick up right where they left off. And that is saying quite a bit. The Scarlet Knights may not be a prolific scoring squad, but they were only shut out four times during the entire 2012 campaign and all of those came during a five game stretch in September.
Weaknesses:
The Rutgers defense is a little light on experience. Outside back Maggie Morash is the only defender with major starting experience. Tori Leigh, Brianne Reed and Erica Sousa, along with freshmen Erin Smith and Shannon Phillips should be able to fill in the gaps. Keeper Jessica Janosz started the 2012 campaign splitting time with Emmy Simpkins in goal. Simpkins soon took over the starting job, while Janosz played in nine contests, starting just two. But now this is Janosz’s team and the senior will need to turn into a consistent keeper and help the young defense develop into capable playmakers.
Final Projection:
Midfielder Hayley Katkowski had an amazing freshman season and earned second-team all-conference accolades. She will not do much scoring and only totaled one assist last year, but she can hold together the defense behind her and kick start the offense in front. With young talent developing and senior leaders like Filigno, not to mention a much easier conference slate, Rutgers will be ready to head back to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Jonelle Filigno, Senior, F, 15
Assists: Jonelle Filigno, Senior, F, 5
Shots: Jonelle Filigno, Senior, F, 67
Saves: Jessica Janosz, Senior, GK, 19
Madness 2014 NWSL Draft Rankings:
#16 Jonelle Filigno
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#37 Madison Tiernan
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
