Time To Pick On Rutgers Again!!!

A few weeks back some folks on this board were tearing into Rutgers for playing rugby and calling it soccer.

Well, they are 8-1 so far this season with a home game tonight against Villanova. Then they lay in wait for the Pilots on Friday afternoon! By the way, it is "Carli Lloyd Night" tonight at the game, and Carli's #10 Rutgers jersey will be retired.

So, is the bad stuff about Rutgers really from the past, or is there evidence that they still try to put in a few rugby moves now and then?

I looked at Rutgers schedule and the only opponets they faced that I could use to evaluate them is Loyola and Notre Dame (won 1-0 and lost 2-0 respectively). Beating Loyola is a pretty decent accomplishment but more telling I think is only losing to high riding Notre Dame by two. If they were pushovers I would think ND might have steamrolled them by more.

So I think they will be a worth opponent although maybe not to the level that Penn State will be. I took a look at a few box scores and they don't seem to get called for an inordinate amount of fouls. In fact Villanova out fouled them 16 to 9 in their game and I haven't heard much about the brutality of Villanova so I think some of the perceptions may be based on teams from the past.

I am going to look at the Roster and do a tooth count. If Geezer has more teeth than the whole Rutgers team combined then I might change my opinion

Okay I looked at the Roster and they seem to look like soccer women and it appears most went to private schools so take whatever conclusion from that you want (ie. they are smart). Also looks like they are picking up votes to crack the polls.

Auto Pilot wrote:
I am going to look at the Roster and do a tooth count. If Geezer has more teeth than the whole Rutgers team combined then I might change my opinion

I've got the full complement of teeth.

Paid a pretty penny for them, too.....

I don't think there is any question that Rutgers plays a pretty physical brand of soccer and has for years. they have had the same coach for 8 years, so I wouldn't expect anything else,

UP can play pretty physical this year, too. In past years, we won the passing duels but often got beat up in the process, I think we can hold our own with anyone this year.

FANatic, I think you're including in your 8-1 record Rutgers' first two non-counting games. Auto Pilot, I think you're looking at the wrong year. Rutgers, in counting games, is 6-1 this year. The lone loss is to Penn State 1-0. The wins are:

George Washington 3-1 (not particularly impressive)
Lehigh 2-1 (not particularly impressive)
Bucknell 4-1 (reasonably impressive considering the score)
Ohio State 1-0 (Ohio State seems off this year, but still a good win)
Dayton 1-0 (good win)
Seton Hall 2-1 (not particularly impressive)

Overall, I'd say the Pilots should get a good game from Rutgers, but should be a significantly better team.

Yeah, wrong year .. my bad. Sorry Geez JK.

I will say one thing though about all opponents. It is not good to give them any disrespect. It doesn't put us any further ahead and only makes good "bulletin board on the locker room door" motivational material for the other team.

We shouldn't forget that we will be playing in their backyard on "Carli Lloyd" night so don't be surprised if Ms. Lloyd gives them the "win one for the Gipper" speach.

Auto Pilot wrote:
We shouldn't forget that we will be playing in their backyard on "Carli Lloyd" night so don't be surprised if Ms. Lloyd gives them the "win one for the Gipper" speach.

That's one problem we won't have.
According to the Rutgers website:

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's soccer program will hold a special pre-game ceremony for former standout Carli Lloyd before Monday's 7:00 p.m. match against BIG EAST foe Villanova. Rutgers will retire Lloyd's No. 10 jersey to honor her for all of her achievements with the US Women's National Team.

I am going to forget about Rutgers now..zzz

I will be at the game. As I mentioned before, it'll be my first time seeing the Pilots in-person, so I am rather excited.

No, so so excited. And only scared of this turnpike business. Is it worse than the DC beltway? I can handle that.

Does one person constitute a cheering section? And what's the worst thing you can say to the home team and not get kicked out?

I've been to Pilot road games and trust me you won't be alone. Portland travels hard! I haven't been kicked out yet so I'm not sure what it takes. Maybe weapons or fireworks. Give it a go old man.

ninjapizza, my lady! I remembered that you were going to your first Pilots games this weekend. Can't wait for your reports on the games.

Yes, do find Pilots fans to sit with. Rutgers, especially has the tough team reputation.

I don't know if this translates to the fans, too, but when I think of Rutgers, I always think rugby first. 2nd, that it's a college, and 3rd, "I wonder where the bejeebers that school is at? The Ozark mountains?"

You'll love the Pilots. They are playing wonderfully. Both Rutgers and Penn State will probably try to beat up on us because they are not as talented. But this team has some real bu$$-kickers, starting with Megan and Keelin. The Pilots are realizing that fire must be met with fire. I think this attitude will only help them down the road.

Umm....Did anyone notice that the Penn State game is at 8 am?

....Sunday ...8 AM???

That would definitely factor out any home field advantage they might have had. How many of their students do you think will show up after studying hard all night Sat?

GO PILOTS!!!

I think it's probably 8 am Pacific time. Would that be 11 back east?

Rutgers beat Villanova tonight 5-0. The statistics were not that one sided, but Rutgers did have the better of the stats by about a 2-1 margin. Villanova was 7-1 going into the game, having just lost its first game to Georgetown 3-0 on Friday. Villanova has a 3-2 win over San Diego State at Villanova, so that gives some sort of info on them. Looks like Rutgers will be a great game.

(In the recent RPI, Rutgers rates higher than Penn State.)

And, I just remembered the U-20s. It will be a great test for the Pilots.

Added note: By virtue of its win over Villanova, Rutgers now has climbed to #10 in the RPI rankings. A win over them will be great for the Pilots' RPI. A win over them and Penn State will be even better!

Yes this weekend we will see the team that should take us though the playoffs. Its almost like the anticipation before UCLA/USC weekend when we all were wondering how good the Pilots would be this year.

I think it will be a breakout weekend for Megan scoring. Her shot placement is the last part of the puzzle to her complete game IMHO.

I'm also going to this game and will be my first time also seeing them live in person. I called their ticket office this afternoon and asked if i needed to buy tickets before going and i was told that majority of their games are not sold out or close to it. He said that there are plenty of tickets left. I will try to take lots of pictures and give you guys a report after the game.

Thanks in advance for being our On Site Investigative Reporter!

harryb wrote:
I think it's probably 8 am Pacific time. Would that be 11 back east?

Yes, harry, indeed it would. I was kind of wondering if P. State didn't schedule the Pilots for an 8am PT gametime, (the game will be played at 11am ET), to kinda mess with our heads, knowing we will probably still not have adjusted to East Coast time. Any thoughts, folks?

This won't work on the Pilots though. They will adjust to whatever obstacle is put in their way.

I would guess that the 11am start time has more to do with the 8pm kick-off of the Illinois at Penn St. football game than any trickery.

Not that they would be above that...

Good point, Nut. What's a little women's soccer game when you've got Joe Paterno and every television announcer just drooling over his every move...

Joe Paterno, That young whippersnapper did he finally graduate and get a job?