Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. – William Paterson University senior forward Sheray Anthony (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) scored a goal in each half and the Pioneers outlasted Rutgers University-Camden, 2-0, in a key game in the battle for a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer playoff berth.

With both teams deadlocked at three points and locked in a three-way tie for seventh place in the NJAC standings entering the game, the contest was a huge opportunity toward the sixth and final playoff spot.

Paterson now owns a 2-5 NJAC record and six points in the conference, while Rutgers-Camden is 1-5 and remains at three points.
Both teams are 4-9-2 overall.

In a hard-fought game in which both teams had good scoring opportunities, Anthony was the only person to capitalize as she hiked her season scoring output to five goals. Early in the first half, after the Scarlet Raptors had missed a wide-open net on a shot outside the left post, Anthony cut around two backs at the top of the Rutgers-Camden box. She moved toward the left post and drilled a shot inside the right panel, scoring her eventual game-winning goal came at 14:18.

In the second half, Anthony added an insurance goal at 83:30 when she slid in a ball at the right post following the rebound of a saved shot, which was taken by sophomore midfielder Elena Grady (Washington Township, NJ/Our Lady of Mercy Academy).

Both teams had a goal disallowed when fouls pushed the opposing keeper into the goal, and Paterson had a goal disallowed on an offsides call. Rutgers-Camden, meanwhile, didn't get the call on an apparent handball in the box, missed a few golden chances and also came up short on what would have tied the game at 1-1 when freshman forward Catherine Fiore (Oaklyn, NJ/Paul VI) drilled a shot off the top of the right post with 14:33 remaining in regulation.

For the game, the Pioneers held a 20-13 advantage in shots and a 7-2 lead in corner kicks. Raptor senior Lauren West (Mantua, NJ/Clearview Regional) had five saves while playing the first half in goal, while senior Leighanna Milby (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) made three saves in the second half.

Paterson senior keeper Alyssa Falduto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) made seven saves in the game and also was aided by a backsave on a ball cleared from near the goal line.

The game was the last home contest of the year for the Scarlet Raptors and served as Senior Day for West, Milby, Dawn Dixon (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley), Camille Graham (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township), Sarah Kooistra (Mantua, NJ/Clearview Regional) and Lindsay Russo (Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway Regional).

Both teams return to action Wednesday. Paterson hosts Vassar College in a 5 p.m. non-conference game, while Rutgers-Camden plays a 7 p.m. NJAC game at Richard Stockton College.