NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark kept things close, but Kean University escaped Alumni Field with a 2-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference victory.

The Scarlet Raiders (3-5-1, NJAC 0-2-0) gave up just a goal in each half while playing in a defensive posture, but sophomore forward Angie Lopez gave the Cougars (4-3-1, NAJC 1-1-0) all the offense that they needed.

Raider freshman goalkeeper Diana Aviles made five stops to offset an 18-4 disadvantage in shots while Kean took all seven corner kicks in the contest.

Cougar sophomore goalkeeper KC Nunez made second half saves against freshman forward Nadine Elebrashy and senior defender Alexis Sutton to post the shutout victory.

Lopez gathered a loose ball on the left side after Aviles mishandled to cross into the middle of the 18 and punched the game winner into the open goal in the 25th minute. Lopez added an insurance goal in the 64th minute when she headed in a free kick from the right sideline by senior midfielder Amanda Repko from the left side of the box.

It marked the fourth shutout loss for the Raiders following a 3-1-1 start while Kean bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Richard Stockton in its league opener.

Rutgers-Newark visits Ramapo College on Saturday at 1 p.m. for another NJAC match.