Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. – With the potential of a first-round bye in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs at stake, the men's soccer teams from Rutgers University-Camden and Rutgers University-Newark treated their showdown here Saturday as more than just a NJAC battle between rival sister schools.
 
In a hard-fought game that included 27 fouls and four yellow cards – including a second yellow for an ejection – the Scarlet Raptors received the first career goals from freshman Aaron Muse (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) and sophomore Mike Naylor (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook Regional) and held on to edge the Scarlet Raiders, 2-1.
 
The victory lifts Rutgers-Camden into second place in the NJAC with one game remaining before the six-team conference playoffs begin on Nov. 1. The top two teams will have a bye into the NJAC semifinals on Nov. 4, a goal that was on the line for both teams Saturday. Rutgers-Camden's victory draws the teams even in the conference standings with 6-2 records, but gives the Raptors the edge for a bye by virtue of the head-to-head result. Both teams have one game remaining on Wednesday in their conference schedule, with Newark hosting NJAC leader Montclair State and Camden traveling to Richard Stockton College. The Scarlet Raptors can wrap up the bye if they win, or if both teams lose or tie.
 
Rutgers-Camden improves to 11-7 overall with its fourth straight series win against Newark, raising its all-time record against the Scarlet Raiders to 28-11-2. The two teams played twice last season, including their first-ever meeting in the NJAC championship game.

 
Rutgers-Newark, which has been ranked as high as No. 19 in the NSCAA Division III Top 25 poll this season, falls to 14-4 overall.
 
On a festive day where Rutgers-Camden celebrated Homecoming, honored its four seniors – Joe Auleta (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton), Eric Cutry (Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee), Nick DiNapoli (Bernardsville, NJ/Bernards) and Ryan Kelly (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) – and also recognized members of its 2013 team that reached the NCAA Division III championship game, the teams nearly reached halftime scoreless. With only 2:22 remaining in the half, however, junior midfielder Giuseppe DeLuca (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) slipped a perfect pass into the center of the box from the right side. Muse, normally a defender who came off the bench to play up top, ran onto the ball and finished for his first career goal.
 
Early in the second half, Naylor soared above a crowd in the box to head home a corner kick from Auleta. His first career goal came at 53:39 and proved to be the game-winning tally.
 
Newark got one goal back at 57:49 when sophomore forward Charlie O'Connell (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) headed in a throw-in from sophomore back Zakaria Sodki (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson). It was his 12th goal of the season.
 
Less than a minute later, a second yellow card forced the Raptors to play short-handed for the final 31:32, but despite a few chances on both sides, neither team managed another goal. Newark held an 18-11 advantage in shots and a 9-6 edge in corner kicks.
 
Rutgers-Camden sophomore goalie Sean Matias (Vineland, NJ/Millville) made five saves while raising his season record to 3-1. Rutgers-Newark junior keeper Matt Broomall (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) also had five saves.