Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. --- Sophomore Sara Jackman came off the bench and recorded her first career goal to lead the No. 4 Portland Pilots past a surging Rutgers team 1-0 Friday evening amid difficult weather conditions at Yurcak Field. Portland, playing without USA Under-20 National Team players Michelle Enyeart and Elli Reed, extended its shutout streak to seven matches in the win.

 

The lone goal of the match came in the 52nd minute as Jackman, a first half substitute, collected a loose ball in the box, took a couple touches and then beat Rutgers goalkeeper Erin Guthrie. The sequence began with a shot from Canadian International Sophie Schmidt. Guthrie made the save, but freshman Charney Burk tested Guthrie again on the rebound with a long range blast that skipped off the wet grass and off the keeper’s chest. Jackman corralled the loose ball, created space and calmly finished for the eventual game-winner.

 

“I took about 10 seconds after the goal before I started celebrating,” Jackman said, “I couldn’t believe that I scored. Garrett (Smith) told me before I went in that if an opportunity presented itself to stay composed. The ball just happened to bounce my way and I made sure I took a couple touches to get my feet set before I shot.”

 

With a steady rain drizzle throughout, the game was slowed down and Portland struggled to get into any sort of possession flow.

 

“The conditions kind of turned it into kick ball,” Jackman added. “There were a lot of safe clearances defensively by both sides and we weren’t able to put the ball down and move it like we usually do, but we did enough to win.”

 

The Pilots (8-1-0) have now won seven straight matches, all by shutout, while the Scarlet Knights (7-2) lost for just the second time this season. Rutgers had previously trounced Villanova (No. 28, Soccer Buzz) by a 5-0 margin on Monday and its only other loss this year came against Penn State in double overtime.

 

“I told the team before the game that with the weather and field conditions the way they were today that the difference was going to come down to a deflection, failed clearance, or a rebound off of a long shot,” Portland head coach Garrett Smith said. “Sure enough, Sara was opportunistic and showed a lot of composure around the goal. It was an ugly game, but nobody’s going to complain about an ugly win.”

 

Enyeart and Reed were unavailable Friday as they participated in a U-20 training camp in Florida. The tandem is expected to rejoin the team for its match on Sunday at Penn State.

 

Friday’s match provided Portland with its stiffest challenge in weeks as the Pilots entered the contest having won five consecutive matches by at least two goals.

 

Both teams used sound defense to prevent many offensive attacks. Portland had the better run of play and more opportunities in the first half with a 6-1 edge in shot attempts. Senior All-American midfielder Megan Rapinoe peppered the Rutgers goal with four first half attempts, but Guthrie recorded a pair of saves to keep the match scoreless going into the half.

 

After Portland struck early in the second period, the Scarlet Knights pushed forward more, but the Pilot defense was up to the challenge as it has been all season.

 

Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Davis did not have to make a save as none of Rutgers’ seven shots were on frame. Portland totaled nine shots for the match and each side had five corner kicks.

 

The Pilots inched closer to a school record for consecutive shutouts with their seventh straight clean sheet. The school record of nine was set just last season.

 

Portland will conclude its East Coast road trip on Sunday morning against No. 22 Penn State. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 a.m. (Pacific).