NEWARK, N.J. (October 21, 2015) – Drew University was able to convert a penalty kick after a takedown in the box late in the second half to earn a 2-1 win over Rutgers University-Newark in a non-conference women's soccer match on Alumni Field.
Rutgers-Newark drops to 12-5-1 on the season, while the Rangers improve to 7-8-1. The Scarlet Raiders will return to action Saturday at New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Rutgers University-Camden. With a win, the Raiders will set a new single-season wins mark in addition to improving its chances at a second-straight NJAC Tournament berth.
Melanie Santos converted her penalty-kick chance into the lower-right corner to give the guests a 2-1 lead with 6:03 remaining in the match. Drew was on a breakaway before a Rutgers foul inside the box allowed the PK opportunity to win the match.
Drew took a 1-0 lead 24:53 into the action when Meghan McDermott touched back to freshman Caroline Kelly who chipped a shot up and in from 25 yards out. It was Kelly's second goal of the season.
Rutgers-Newark scored the equalizer with 28:19 to play in regulation on a picture-perfect set piece from 30-plus yards out. Senior
Cristina Estremera stepped up to take the kick after getting shaken up on a hard tackle several minutes prior, lofting the ball in front to sophomore
Emily Corson who headed it into the upper-left. It was Corson's second tally and Estermera's sixth assist.
The Scarlet Raiders had several chances throughout the first half, putting three shots on goal and taking five total shots. R-N also put two corners on the board.
Early in the second, senior
Sara Corson nearly found freshman
Juliana Ceballos with a cross and one-timer, and sophomore goalkeeper
Diana Carvalho kept her team within one when she stopped a breakaway attempt from senior Emma Campbell.
The Scarlet Raiders forced the action over three minutes around the 12-minute mark as Ceballos and Estremera put shots on target or just off target, but could not take the lead, and after the PK, the hosts were unable to find a second equalizer to force overtime.
R-N ended the game with a 14-11 edge in shots, putting six on target. The Raiders also held a 4-1 margin in corners, with Carvalho making three saves in the match.
