NEWARK, NJ – Junior midfielder Liana Abreu tallied three unassisted goals as Rutgers-Newark downed Ramapo, 5-3, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match on Alumni Field.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Junior goalkeeper Danielle Griscom, who got her first official career start in place injured junior Kat Renteria, made two saves to get her first career victory behind a defense which allowed the Raiders a 24-14 edge in shots.

All three of Abreu's goals came after she took control of loose balls on the offensive end. She netted the matches' opening tally in the 23rd minute from the right side, gave the Raiders a 3-1 edge in the 56th minute by hammering in a shot from 20 yards out on the right side, and completed her third career hat trick by picking off a pass on the right side and sending a shot across the goal with just 26 seconds left.

Roadrunner senior forward Melissa Demko ran onto a cross into the middle of the box by Melanie Pupo in the 34th minute to level the score, and the teams went to the break at 1-1.

Rutgers-Newark senior midfielder Angela Neves bounced a shot over Ramapo goalkeeper Alyssa Krall just 2:08 into the second half to give the Raiders the lead for good.

Roadrunner freshman forward Katie Popowych one timed a shot into the right side of the net following a mad scramble in front of the goal to trim the deficit to 3-2.

Raider senior forward Karen Johnson picked up a loose ball and fired a shot inside the right post in the 75th minute before Ramapo freshman defender Susan Hayes netted a penalty kick at 78:03 to once again make it a one-goal game. That goal made Johnson's tally the game winner.

Krall (2-5-0) made six saves while yielding four goals before giving way to freshman Talia Auslin who gave up the final goal while logging the final 14:23. 

Abreu's outburst placed her in a tie for third place in the Scarlet Raider career points list.  With 17 points this season, she now has recorded 67 for her career.  That ties her with Alison Phillips (2004-07) for points in the 11-year-old program's history.  She also swept past Sarah Wilson (25 goals, 2001-04) and Jenna Weiss (26 goals, 2001-03) into sole possession of third place in career goals with 27.

Rutgers-Newark (4-3-1, NJAC 1-0-1) visits Montclair State on Wednesday while Ramapo (3-6-0, NJAC 0-3-0) hosts William Paterson. Both matches start at 4 p.m.