PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women’s soccer has been ranked No. 12 in SoccerWire.com’s Top 50 Current NCAA Women’s Programs, highlighting sustained success over the past five seasons.
The soccer website compiled the top 50 programs in NCAA women’s soccer over the past five full seasons (not including 2020’s abbreviated results), based on their average position in the end-of-season rankings. Rankings are based on a combination of final United Soccer Coaches Polls and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) from each season, with bonuses awarded for NCAA Tournament qualification and College Cup victories.
The Scarlet Knights, led by head coach Mike O’Neill, qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons, capped by a run to the 2021 College Cup last fall. The national semifinal appearance succeeded the program’s and school’s first-ever Big Ten Championship title following a perfect 10-0-0 gauntlet through the conference’s regular season. RU also appeared in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the second time over the past five full seasons.
Rutgers has compiled a 70-19-22 record during this span, not including 2020-21’s 9-3-4 mark during the abridged spring season. That includes a 35-7-12 grade in Big Ten play and six wins or advancements in the NCAA Tournament.
Marked by stalwart defense, the Scarlet Knights’ goalkeeping and defense contingents have held opponents to a 0.60 goals-against average since the 2016 season. The reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year and the United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year have recruited and developed five MAC Hermann Trophy candidacies and six United Soccer Coaches All-Americans.
This span of success has also seen Rutgers claim a Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, a Defensive Player of the Year, an Offensive Player of the Year, Four Freshman of the Year honors, and 25 All-Big Ten distinctions.
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