NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark fell, 2-0, in its regular-season finale to New Jersey Athletic Conference foe Richard Stockton on Alumni Field, but the Scarlet Raiders still ended the night with a home match in the league's championship opening round.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

2012 NJAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Bracket (PDF)

Rutgers-Newark hosts Kean, a team which defeated the Raiders 2-1 on September 19, in Saturday's opening round at 1 p.m. on Alumni Field.  William Paterson will host Rowan (10-7-2, NJAC 4-4-1) in the other first round contest as the top two seeds – Montclair State and Rutgers-Camden – enjoy a bye into Tuesday's semifinal round.

The Scarlet Raiders (13-7-0, NJAC 5-4-0) got the help that they needed to claim third seed in the 6-team playoff when top-seeded Montclair State (17-1-0, NJAC 8-1-0) stopped Ramapo (8-8-1, NAJC 4-5-0) and William Paterson (8-8-1, NJAC 4-4-1) turned back Kean (9-10-0, NJAC 4-5-0) in other Wednesday night matches.

Rutgers-Newark out-shot the Ospreys, 11-6, in the second period with both teams finishing with 17 attempts, but the Raiders could not get a shot past freshman goalkeeper Bob Millar who finished with four saves.  Each team also tried four corner kicks in the tightly-contested match.

Rutgers-Newark rookie goalkeeper Matt Broomall made five saves for the Raiders who lost for just the second time in their last 10 outings.

Osprey junior forward Pat Rafferty headed in a lob pass to the middle of the box from freshman back Clevon McPherson 34 minutes into the fray to give Stockton a 1-0 edge at the break.  Freshman midfielder Peter Turowski notched the insurance goal in the 80th minute when he collected a loose ball just inside the 18 and fired a shot low into the left side of the goal.

The Raiders put four of their six opening-period shots on goal, including a pair by freshman defender Paul Tarnawski.

Seniors Nick Kyrpianou, Gabriel Avans and William Munoz were honored in Senior Night ceremonies prior to the match.  The trio has combined to score 15 of the Raiders' 41 goals this season while leading the team to a program tying 13 victories.

The Raiders return to the NJAC Championship Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons after having gone without an appearance prior to the arrival of head coach Kevin East.