Box Score GALLOWAY, N.J. – Rutgers University-Newark scored just 15 minutes into the match, but third-seeded Richard Stockton rebounded quickly for a 3-1 win in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament in the G. Larry James Stadium.
In the Scarlet Raiders' first-ever appearance in the conference championship playoffs, junior midfielder
Sara Corson staked Rutgers-Newark to the early lead off of an assist from junior midfielder
Cristina Estremera. Corson's header gave her 17 goals on the season, but the lead lasted less than three minutes.
Junior midfielder Chelsea James had a hand in three unanswered markers as Richard Stockton (14-7) rallied past the sixth-seeded Raiders (12-7-2). James fed junior midfielder Keara Homan for the leveling goal at 17:41 before scoring the game winner just 1:37 later on an assist from sophomore midfielder Adrianna Boucher.
In the second half, the Raiders had several scoring opportunities before senior forward Lexi Stasi notched the insurance goal at the 67
th minute by putting away the rebound of a shot by James off of Raider junior goalkeeper
Veronika Tueros.
Tueros finished with four saves to keep things close despite a 7-3 edge by the Ospreys in shots on goal. Stockton out-shot the Raiders 11-7 and forged a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks on a cold and windy afternoon. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Haynes needed just two saves to get the win for the Ospreys.
Rutgers-Newark must now wait for a possible bid to the ECAC Metro Championship Tournament while the Ospreys advance to the NJAC semifinals at second-seeded The College of New Jersey on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ECAC bids will be announced on November 10.
