Box Score

MAHWAH, N.J. – Needing a victory to stay alive in the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoff picture, the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team raced to a quick start and outshot its host opponent, Ramapo College, throughout the day.

The Roadrunners, however, rallied from a two-goal deficit to edge the Scarlet Raptors, 3-2, here Saturday afternoon as they wrapped up the sixth and final spot in the upcoming NJAC playoffs. It will be the Roadrunners' first NJAC playoff berth in program history.

Ramapo, which has won three straight games, improves to 8-9 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

Rutgers-Camden falls to 4-11-2 overall and 1-7 in the NJAC. The Raptors needed to beat both Ramapo and win their last game, Wednesday at New Jersey City University, to have a shot at a post-season NJAC berth.

The Scarlet Raptors outshot the Roadrunners, 16-8, in the game and placed nine shots on goal to Ramapo's five. The pressure paid off early with a pair of goals by freshman forward Catherine Fiore (Oaklyn, NJ/Paul VI). Fiore scored unassisted goals at 15:34 and 25:57, hiking her team-leading totals to four goals and nine points.

Ramapo, however, cut into its deficit at 31:44 when sophomore back Nicole Ninomiya (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) scored the first of her two goals on the day. She redirected a corner kick by senior midfielder Kate Popowych (Aberdeen, NJ/Mater Dei) for her sixth goal of the year.
Only 5:51 into the second half, Ninomiya notched her seventh goal and tied the game at 2-2. She drilled in a shot off a cross from Popowych.

The game stayed deadlocked at 2-2 until 12:29 remained in regulation when senior midfielder Liz Samimi (Clarkstown, NY/Clarkstown North) headed home a cross from freshman midfielder Kelsey Sutherland (Edison, NJ/Edison).

Ramapo senior keeper Talia Auslin (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) finished with seven saves in the game, including three off shots by Fiore and two off shots by sophomore midfielder Rachel Sindoni (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East).

Rutgers-Camden senior goalie Lauren West (Mantua, NJ/Clearview Regional) had two saves.

The Scarlet Raptors close their season Wednesday with a 2:30 p.m. game at New Jersey City University.