Michigan kept coming. So much so, it seemed like it had more players on the field than Rutgers. And then, with five minutes to go, the Wolverines actually did.
But the Scarlet Knights did not flinch. Instead, they kept finding ways to turn the onslaught away until it was time for their own rush – one to celebrate history.
Rutgers field hockey won the first Big Ten tournament title in athletics department history on Sunday, turning back the Wolverines, 1-0, behind a sensational defensive effort and a timely first-half goal by Tayla Parkes in front of a historic crowd of 1,617 at the Bauer Track and Field Complex in Piscataway,
“It’s a dream come true. Literally,” head coach Meredith Civico said. “It’s an incredible amount of hard work, dedication from these players, belief in our program, my vision for Rutgers field hockey, athletics’ vision, all coming to life. … I don’t think it gets better than this.”
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The win is the latest step in what has been a steady rise under Civico, who took over the program as a 28-year-old first-time coach in 2012 and has built her team from a campus afterthought to one of Rutgers’ most-accomplished programs. The Scarlet Knights ended a 32-year NCAA Tournament drought in 2018 but had just missed the tournament the last two seasons. With the league title in hand, there is a good chance they will be the No. 1 seed nationally when the bracket is set late Sunday night.
“It feels incredible. We are finally getting the recognition Rutgers field hockey deserves,” said back Kerrie Burns, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. “We’ve been working for this, and we’ve finally achieved it.”
Michigan out-shot Rutgers, 12-3, and had four shots on goal to the Scarlet Knights’ two. But goalkeeper Gianna Glatz was a brick wall, even after the Wolverines pulled goalkeeper Anna Spieker for an extra attacker in the final minutes. Parkes scored the game’s lone goal with roughly six minutes left before halftime off an assist by Bridy Molyneaux.
This Rutgers win comes two weeks after the Wolverines thumped the Scarlet Knights, 3-0, in Ann Arbor.
“It says a lot about Rutgers,” Civico said. “This program, this university, this athletic department is so incredibly gritty and focused on getting better and competing. I think this is just the beginning for Rutgers. Not just field hockey, but all of athletics. We are here to stay.”
Rutgers went seven years in the Big Ten without a single conference championship. In the span of two weeks, it has gotten at least two – a regular season title from women’s soccer and this tournament crown – with women’s soccer’s conference final still to go.
“We might be the first, but I know many more are coming,” Glatz said. “Our university has something so special. And Rutgers in the Big Ten, we’re meant to be here. We have Jersey behind us.”
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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com.
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