NEWARK, NJ – Freshman defender Vanessa Rivera exploded for three consecutive first half goals to help spark Rutgers-Newark to a season-opening 8-0 win over Mount St. Vincent on Alumni Field.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Scarlet Raider first-year head coach Bill Bustamante claimed victory in his debut in Scarlet & Black behind a sparking team effort as Rutgers-Newark piled up a hefty 48-1 edge in shots.

Junior midfielder Liana Abreu sandwiched a pair of goals around a tally by junior defender Jessica Gavilanes to close out the scoring in the second half, but rookies posted the first five goals of the season for the Raiders.

Freshman midfielder Alex Nata notched the opening goal in the eighth minute on a long shot into the left corner of the net from the right side. Rivera headed in a corner kick by Nata in the 11th minute before finding the net twice in the 34th minute to give Rutgers-Newark (1-0-0) a 4-0 halftime edge.

Freshman forward Michelle Gromashchuk, who assisted on Rivera's third goal, opened the second half by redirecting a restart kick by Rivera just a minute and a half into the period.

Junior goalkeepers Kat Renteria, who got the win by playing the first 68 minutes of the contest, and Danielle Griscom shared an easy shutout as the Dolphins managed just one shot which came in the 33rd minute.

The Raiders now travel to Rochester, NY, to play in the Flower City Tournament, facing Medaille College in the 11 a.m. opening match in the University of Rochester's Fauver Stadium.