Knights Dominate in 2-0 Win Over Rutgers-Newark

Women's Soccer | 9/8/2023 5:54:00 PM

Box Score

Dallas, PA – Senior Maddie Lopol scored her third goal in two games and junior Chloe Hodge found the back of the net for the first time in 2023, as the Clarkson University Women's Soccer team remained unbeaten and picked up a 2-0 win over Rutgers-Newark on Friday afternoon.

The Golden Knights improved to 3-0-0 on the year and will face second-ranked Case Western Reserve University on Sunday afternoon.

The Knights kept Rutgers-Newark's defense busy in the first half, outshooting the Scarlet Raiders 11-1, including a 7-1 margin in shots on goal. Clarkson nearly put one in less than 90 seconds into the game when Lillian Gillett's shot from about 20 yards out hit the left post. The Knights had several other chances where the ball sailed just over the crossbar or Rutgers-Newark goalkeeper Katie McLaughlin was able to make a save. The Knights other best scoring opportunity came with roughly six minutes to go in the half when Maddie Lopol forced McLaughlin to lay out for a save after picking up the ball in the box following a Clarkson corner kick.

The Scarlet Raiders' lone chance in the opening half was more of a cross than a shot, as Leila Ettayebi's attempt was a pop up into the box where she wasn't really looking at the goal. Molly DiCaprio easily caught the ball in front of the net without a challenge from any Rutgers-Newark players.

Clarkson finally got on the scoreboard early in the second half as the Golden Knights employed a fast offense that didn't allow the Scarlet Raiders to reset. Quick throws ins kept the defense off balance and the ball found the foot of Aspen Tlapa, who tapped a short pass over to Emily Davis outside the penalty area. Davis's initial shot hit the post square, but Maddie Lopol was there to pick up the loose ball and sent a shot to the opposite post to put the Knights up 1-0 at 53:54.

Scoring chances were seldom over the next 20 minutes or so, though Clarkson almost picked up an insurance goal in the 73rd minute. A quick transition allowed Emma Robinson to get a hard shot off from about 25 yards out, and McLaughlin got some fingertips on it, forcing the ball off the crossbar before it was cleared away.

Clarkson did get on the board a few minutes later on what for most teams would be a harmless restart. The Knights had a free kick from the stripe in their own defensive end, but Julia Tylar's kick sailed all the way into the other penalty area, eluding the attempted headers of a Scarlet Raider and Golden Knight, but finding the foot of Chloe Hodge, who volleyed the ball in at 78:44 to put Clarkson up 2-0.

Several solid saves by McLaughlin kept the game from getting out of hand as the Rutgers-Newark goalkeeper finished with nine saves. Molly DiCaprio stopped two shots, though neither had much pace on them to challenge the junior Clarkson keeper. Clarkson finished with a 19-3 edge in shots, a 12-2 lead in shots on goal, and a 6-3 advantage in corner kick chances.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Emily Davis: M; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#99 Molly DiCaprio: GK; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#6 Chloe Hodge: F; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#22 Aspen Tlapa: F; 5' 5"; Junior

#2 Maddie Lopol: M; 5' 10"; Junior

#7 Julia Tylar: D/M; 5' 6"; Freshman

#9 Lillian Gillett: M/F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#18 Emma Robinson: F; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Emily Davis
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: M

#99 Molly DiCaprio
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: GK

#6 Chloe Hodge
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: F

#22 Aspen Tlapa
: 5' 5"; Junior
: F

#2 Maddie Lopol
: 5' 10"; Junior
: M

#7 Julia Tylar
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: D/M

#9 Lillian Gillett
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: M/F

#18 Emma Robinson
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: F