RIVERDALE, N.Y. (November 14, 2015) – For the second time in as many years, the Rutgers University-Newark women's soccer team is in the final of Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro/Upstate Championship.
 
The Scarlet Raiders defeated Bard College by a score of 1-0 Saturday, and will take on host and No. 1 seed New York University Sunday at 12 p.m. in Riverdale, N.Y. at Gaelic Park.
 
For the second time in as many years the Scarlet Raiders have also set a new program wins record, now boasting 15 victories on the 2015 season, one better than their total of 14 set last year during an ECAC tournament semifinal win over The Sage Colleges.
 
R-N improves to 15-8-1 overall, while seventh-seeded Bard ends its season at 8-9-2. Rutgers-Newark advanced with a 4-3 victory over Ramapo College in the opening round of the tournament, and Bard advanced by defeating Kean University in penalty kicks. NYU beat Lehman College and Mount Saint Mary College to earn the rite to play in Sunday's final.
 
Bard ended the match with a 9-7 margin in shots, putting five on target compared to two for the Scarlet Raiders, but R-N had the game's only goal.
 
That goal came off the foot of first-team All-New Jersey Athletic Conference performer Cristina Estremera who tallied on a free kick from just outside the box with 22:23 left in regulation. The goal was her 11th of the season and second of the postseason – both game-winners. Estremera's first game-winner came in the team's NJAC Tournament win over nationally-ranked Montclair St. from about 30-yards out, and this one came from about 20-yards away and was snuck in just underneath the crossbar. 

After the goal, Rutgers-Newark did not allow Bard a single shot or corner, generating two of their own to earn the team's seventh shutout of the season. Amazingly, Rutgers-Newark did not allow the Raptors to try one single bid over the game's entire second half and final 46:30 overall. R-N held a 6-0 edge in shots in the second stanza, ending the match with a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, including a 3-0 margin in the second half.
 
Senior Veronika Tueros was in goal for the Scarlet Raiders, making five saves for her second individual clean sheet of the year.
 
After not winning a postseason match in its history before a victory in the first round of last year's ECAC Tournament, Rutgers-Newark now has five in two seasons and three this year (5-3-0).
 
The Raiders will look to make it six Sunday against the Violets and those fans unable to make the trip can follow live via links at www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com.