Box Score CAMDEN, N.J. – Sophomore forward
Mike Ryan (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season early in the first half and that was enough as the nationally-ranked Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team edged Rowan University, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.
The Scarlet Raptors, who entered the game ranked No. 3 in both the NSCAA poll and the
D3soccer.com Top 25 rankings for, their highest national rankings ever, improved to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC. They continued school-records with their 10-game winning streak, 10-0 perfect start and 22-game unbeaten streak (19-0-3) dating back to last season.
The Raptors also stretched their home winning streak to 13 games over the last two seasons.
Rowan falls to 6-3 overall and 0-2 in the NJAC, with its only three defeats coming against nationally-ranked teams.
In the 17th minute, the Scarlet Raptors pressured the Rowan goal when a shot by freshman midfielder
Juan Rojas (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) was blocked in the box and junior back
Joe Auleta (Atco, NJ/Hammonton) took the rebound. He set up Ryan, who fired a shot into the left side of the net for his team-leading fifth game-winning goal.
That goal stood up as the Scarlet Raptors' defense recorded its sixth shutout of the season, with senior goalie
Mike Randall (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) making three saves.
Rowan senior keeper
Ryan Gill (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) had four saves as Rutgers-Camden held a 19-9 advantage in shots and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Both teams return to with road games on Saturday. Rowan faces FDU-Florham in an 11 a.m. non-conference game, while Rutgers-Camden battles Kean University in a 1 p.m. NJAC contest.