Box Score
CAMDEN, N.J.  – Looking for a quick start against a dangerous opponent, the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team found the right combination here Wednesday night.
 
Junior midfielder Jeramey Robbins (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) headed in a feed from junior midfielder Connor Hurff (Sewell, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) only 2:47 into the contest and the nationally-ranked Scarlet Raptors went on to hand Eastern University its first loss of the season, 3-1, in a non-conference game.
 
Rutgers-Camden, which is ranked No. 25 in the NSCAA Division III Top 25 and No. 23 in the D3soccer.com poll, improves to 4-2 with its third consecutive win. Eastern, which received 16 votes toward the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll this week, falls to 3-1. The Eagles have played four consecutive 3-1 games to start the season.
 
Robbins, an All-Atlantic Region Second Team player at Division II Millersville University last season, finished with two goals for the Scarlet Raptors, as Rutgers-Camden took an early 2-0 lead in the fast-paced game between two of the top teams in the region.
 
Almost 15 minutes after scoring his first goal, Robbins struck again after junior midfielder Grant Taylor (Mendham, NJ/West Morris-Mendham) dropped a pass from inside the area to the top of the box. Robbins rifled in his second goal of the game and third as a Scarlet Raptor, finishing at 17:24.
 
The Scarlet Raptors held an 8-5 advantage in shots during the opening half and nearly scored again when Taylor put a long-range shot off the top of the left post. Eastern, however, kept pressing its attack and it finally paid off late in the game when the Raptors were called for a takedown in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Junior forward Eric Giovagnoli (Royersford, PA/Springford) converted the PK with 5:20 remaining in regulation, making it a one-goal game.
 
Moments later, Rutgers-Camden got an insurance goal to put the game away. Senior midfielder Joe Auleta (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) sprung junior forward Mike Ryan (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) with a pass beyond the Eagles' defense. Ryan broke in from the left side of the box and sent a shot into the right panel for his team-leading fifth goal of the season. The goal, the 44th of his career, came with 3:08 remaining in the game.
 
The Scarlet Raptors finished with an 18-12 edge in shots and a 3-2 lead in corner kicks. Eastern senior goalie Nick Policastro (West Islip, NY/West Islip) made six saves and allowed three goals. Rutgers-Camden sophomore Eric Bumbera (Wall, NJ/Wall) made three saves. The only goal scored against him came on the penalty kick.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they host Lynchburg College at 1 p.m.