NEWARK, N.J. (October 6, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's soccer team suffered a hard-luck loss to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rutgers University-Camden Saturday night on Frederick Douglass Field.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 5-6-2 overall and 1-4-0 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden improves to 3-1-1 in the conference and 6-5-1 overall. The Scarlet Raiders will return to action Wednesday night when they host league rival William Paterson University. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored a goal in the 15th minute to take a 1-0 lead, and the guests tacked on an insurance score at 62:02 on a free kick off the foot of sophomore forward Meghan Wachira. Wachira scored both R-C goals, capitalizing on a turnover in the first half to put her team on top, and finding the back of the net in the second half on a shot from the top-left corner of the penalty box.
 
The Scarlet Raiders were able to answer, quickly slicing the Camden advantage in half 1:42 later when freshman Jill McCourt headed home a corner kick from senior Juliana Ceballos. The goal was the first of McCourt's young career in the Brick City, while Ceballos notched her sixth assist of the season. The R-N senior leads the team in assists, goals and points in 2018.
 
Newark weathered a solid rush from Wachira and the Scarlet Raptors after its goal, and Ceballos led the Raiders back on offense, creating several solid chances for herself and her teammates. One of her bids was saved in the 75th minute with R-C keeper Natalie Eberhardt lunging backwards to keep the rebound from trickling in.
 
Then, at 77:34, Ceballos ripped a bullet from more than 30-yards out, narrowly missing the equalizer when the near-perfect attempt hammered squarely off the crossbar and back into play.
 
The two teams continued to go back and forth with the Scarlet Raiders holding a distinct advantage in possession and field position throughout much of the second half. However, the hosts were unable to find the equalizer they needed and succumbed by a 2-1 final.

Scarlet Raider goalkeeper Heidi Paulson made eight saves, and Newark was credited with nine total denials as junior back Deirdre Mackin kept a volley out of the back of the net with a strong defensive play midway through the second half. Eberhardt was credited with five stops in the win for Camden.
 
Rutgers-Camden ended the match with a 15-12 margin in shots and an 11-6 edge in shots on target. The Scarlet Raptors took five corners compared to four for Rutgers-Newark.