Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. – Rutgers University-Newark's furious closing rally came up short as Rutgers University-Camden won a crucial 2-1 New Jersey Athletic Conference decision in the RUC Community Park.
 
Sophomore forward Charlie O'Connell headed a throw in from sophomore defender Zakaria Sodki into the left corner of the goal in the 58^th minute to slice the deficit to a goal to ignite a late flurry, but the Scarlet Raiders (14-4-0, NJAC 6-2-0) could not overcome a two-goal deficit.
 
Rutgers-Newark took six corner kicks and six shots during the final 31 minutes but could not find the net.
 
In a hard-fought opening period it was the Raptors who struck first when freshman defender Aaron Muse netted his first goal of the season by putting away a cross into the box by junior forward Giuseppe DeLuca with just 1:22 left on the clock.  Until the goal, the teams had engaged in a defensive struggle with each goalkeeper making three saves.  The Raiders forged a 9-5 edge in shots during the half, but the Raptors put four of their shots on goal.
 
Raptor sophomore midfielder Mike Naylor headed in the first goal of his career off of a corner kick by senior midfielder Joe Auleta in the 54^th minute to make it 2-0.  Rutgers-Camden junior forward Mike Ryan sent a shot off the crossbar at the 66^th minute for Rutgers-Camden's other best chance.
 
Raider junior goalkeeper Matt Broomall and Raptor freshman Sean Matias totaled five saves each.  Senior midfielder Diego Moraes and sophomore midfielder Hubert Dul forced Matias to make saves in the final 12 minutes of play.

Rutgers-Newark forged an 18-11 advantage in shots and a 9-6 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Raiders' second straight NJAC loss drops them into third place in league standings with one match remaining.  The head-to-head win by Rutgers-Camden gives the Raptors the inside track for one of two first round byes in the upcoming NJAC Championship Tournament.
 
Rutgers-Newark hosts league-leading Montclair State (15-3-0, NJAC 8-0-0) on Senior Night on Wednesday at 7:30 on Alumni Field while Rutgers-Camden is at Richard Stockton.  The Raiders will need a better result over the Red Hawks than the Raptors will have at Stockton (10-4-4, NJAC 3-2-3) to regain an opening round bye in the playoffs.  Rutgers-Newark will need a win over MSU if Rutgers-Camden and Stockton tie to move back into second place.  A Raider tie will be enough for second place if the Raptors lose to the Ospreys.

The NJAC playoffs begin on Saturday with the sixth place team playing at No. 3 while the fifth place team is a No. 4.  The Raiders can finish no worse than third in the final standings.  The top two teams will host semifinal matches on Tuesday,  November 4.