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NEWARK, N.J. (August 31, 2015) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's soccer team will open its 2015 season on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. when the Scarlet Raiders visit Brooklyn College.
 
Wednesday will be the first chance for the Scarlet Raiders to build upon a 2014 campaign in which the team reached the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament for the first time. R-N also picked up the program's first-ever postseason victory, advancing all the way to the finals of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship and finishing with an overall record of 14-8-2 (4-4-1 NJAC). The 14 wins were also a new program-record.
 
Charged with leading the Scarlet Raiders through the 2015 season will be tri-captains Sara Corson, Cristina Estremera and Veronika Tueros.
 
"All three have been great so far," said first-year head coach Ariana Ruela. "They all lead on and off the field, vocally and by example, which is what we need. All three have been a part of this program's growth and know what it takes to be successful."
 
Sara Corson was a second-team all-conference selection after shattering Rutgers-Newark single-season records for points (55) and goals (24). She was the NJAC and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week on four occasions and led the conference in points, points per game, goals and goals per game. A talented target forward that can create for herself and others, Corson seems poised and focused for another excellent season – her second in Newark after transferring from Rutgers (New Brunswick).
 
A central midfielder with wonderful vision, a great shot and leadership ability, Estremera earned first-team All-NJAC and third-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region honors as a junior after back-to-back honorable mention all-conference nods to start her career. Estremera has made 63 appearances at Rutgers-Newark, scoring 23 goals and dishing out 10 assists, ranking sixth in program history in points (56) and seventh in markers.
 
Tueros will be the Scarlet Raiders' starting goalkeeper, showing steady growth in her previous two seasons with the program. An excellent communicator and a player that is fearless in the air, Tueros earned the majority of time as a junior, pitching two shutouts and making 70 saves. The Perth Amboy, N.J. native will be a key to the team's success in 2015 – as will be the performance of the other two captains.
 
Forwards:
A deep and experienced group will join Sara Corson up front for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Sophomore Haley Savva started 16-of-22 matches she appeared in, registering nine points on a goal and seven assists. She assisted game-winning-goals for teammates on three separate occasions and has the ability to beat a defender in one-on-one situations in addition to knowing how to get into position to score.
 
Senior Paige Lazar is someone that has demonstrated steady growth over the course of her career, and was rewarded with a second-team All-NJAC honor in 2014 after scoring 13 goals – including five game-winners – and four assists. A shooter with a lot of confidence, Lazar was third in the NJAC in game-winning-goals and fifth in both goals and points.
 
Senior Sara Ramirez is a creative and crafty player with an eye for the goal. She played in 21 matches last year, making 11 starts, scoring twice and handing out a trio of assists. One of her tallies came in the final minute of regulation of a 1-1 tie with Frostburg State University on September 6 as the Bergenfield, N.J. native hopes to see increases across the board in her final season as a Scarlet Raider.
 
Junior forward/midfielder Raquel DaCosta saw the pitch 20 times in 2014, recording eight points on three goals and two assists – all of which came in R-N's run to the ECAC Metro/Upstate title match. A facilitator who has improved each season with the program, DaCosta knows when to make runs down the sideline and can cross the ball to set up her teammates for scoring chances.
 
Sophomore Ashley Evaristo, senior Debbie Maldonado and senior Katreina Casale are all returning to the front line as well for the Scarlet Raiders and will be getting minutes after working very hard in training and demonstrating a strong commitment to the team.
 
Midfielders:
In addition to Estremera, a trio of midfielders will be back for Rutgers-Newark in sophomore defensive-mid Emily Corson, senior defensive-mid Bridget Spatola and junior midfielder Nadine Elebrashy.
 
Emily Corson started the team's final 23 matches last season. The NJAC Rookie of the Week on October 5, Corson was an instrumental piece to seven shutouts, also scoring once and handing out five assists. The Metuchen, N.J. native distributes well and will serve as a switching point for the Scarlet Raider attack.
 
Spatola is a defensive midfielder that reads the game extremely well, distributing the ball to the Raider attack. A hard-worker with an aggressive mindset, Spatola knows how to use her body when playing defense. The Rahway native played in 17 matches as a junior in 2014, earning one starting nod.
 
Elebrashy has been a constant on the field for the Scarlet Raiders in 2013 and 2014, seeing time in 38 matches, and picking up six points on the back of three goals. A player with a lot of collegiate experience and a nice feel for the game, the Bayonne, N.J. native will have a key role for the Raiders as an upperclassmen.
 
Additionally, sophomore transfer Nicole Gomez has impressed in the early going and will see time in the midfield. Someone who sees the field well, Gomez is technically sound, has creativity in her game and is already demonstrating a good rapport with the R-N forwards.
 
Backs:
The Scarlet Raider defense is talented and experienced with junior Victoria Benet, senior Julie Dantoni, sophomore Sabrina Solorzano and sophomore Allyson Daly leading the way.
 
Benet was an honorable mention All-NJAC selection after an excellent sophomore season and will be a key contributor again this time around. A center back with great strength and aggression, Benet is a leader among the team's defense, helping R-N to seven shutouts in 2014 and starting all 41 matches in the last two seasons.
 
Dantoni is an outside back coming back for her third season, appearing in 35 matches to this point. Dantoni has demonstrated great speed and is a hard worker that knows her position well. The coaching staff is hoping to see her game go to the next level as a senior.
 
Solorzano was in the starting lineup for each match in 2014, showing off speed and aggression. The Iselin, N.J. native can wreak havoc for opposing defenses and is never afraid to join the attack. Solorzano had four points as a freshman on a goal and two assists.
 
Daly played in 22 contests, with 12 starting nods. A smart defender with quality instincts, aggressiveness and positioning, Daly should see a bigger role in her second campaign and is another key to the Scarlet Raider back line.
 
Sophomore transfer Angelika Barris has also looked strong in camp. Barris is a smart center back that reads the game well with some quality collegiate experience after a year at the University of Bridgeport.
 
Senior Kimberly Guzman who made a four appearances and sophomore Jamie Baldinelli who took to the pitch 16 times last year will add to the team's depth along the back line.
 
Goalkeepers:
In addition to Tueros, sophomore goalkeeper Diana Carvalho is returning to the roster for this season after seeing action in four matches as a rookie. Carvalho was a part of three shutouts in 2014 and did not allow a goal against in 90 minutes of action. Tueros, Carvalho and freshman Jasmeen Kaur will give R-N solid depth between the pipes.
 
The Freshmen Class:
The coaching staff has brought eight rookies into the fold for the 2015 season in back Sunna Baig, back Salma Bouzidi, midfielder/forward Juliana Ceballos, back Melissa Chaquea, back Cindy Guzman, forward Sukhi Kaur, Jasmeen Kaur, and midfielder Ashley Morales.
 
Baig has a strong presence as a center back and an eye for winning 50-50 balls, while Bouzidi is an aggressive player and hard worker that will look to join the attack from her outside back spot. Ceballos is technically sound, crafty and creative with the ability to strike the ball, and Chaquea is another strong aggressive presence along the back line. Guzman is an outside back that will look to overlap, displaying hard work and a fighter's mentality in the early going, with Sukhi Kaur showing ability as a target forward that knows how to finish crosses. Jasmeen Kaur has raw talent and the ability to take control of the box as a keeper, with Morales demonstrating vision and quality offensive ability in the midfield.
 
We have a lot of talented players this year, both returning and new, which gives us a lot of depth in our roster," said Ruela. "I am happy with the quality of soccer the team has shown throughout preseason, but there is always room for improvement and I know the girls will continue to work hard." 
 
The Scarlet Raiders will play three matches on the road before its home-opener on September 9 against the College of Staten Island.
 
"The team is very excited to get the season started, and it's vital that we start off with some big non-conference wins," added Ruela. "I am very pleased with how the team has meshed thus far, and if that continues, I think the wins will come."

The R-N NJAC schedule begins at The College of New Jersey on September 16 and closes on October 28 on Alumni Field against Montclair State University.