Box Score CAMDEN, N.J. – The road warriors who are known as the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team finally had a chance to play on their own pitch here Saturday.
After playing eight of their first nine games on the road, the Scarlet Raptors returned home for only the second time this season. Rutgers-Camden welcomed the homecoming, dominating play and using a first-half goal by sophomore
Catherine Fiore (Oaklyn, NJ/Paul VI) to defeat New Jersey City University, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game.
The Scarlet Raptors improve to 1-1 in the NJAC and 4-5-1 overall with their third straight win over NJCU. They lead the all-time series, 12-3.
The Gothic Knights fall to 0-2 in the conference and 3-3-2 overall despite a stellar performance by senior goalie
Brittany Hoffman (McMurray, PA/Peters Township). Hoffman made nine saves as the Scarlet Raptors held a 27-2 advantage in shots and a 10-1 lead in corner kicks. She batted several near goals over the crossbar, saw the Raptors'
Ashley Silva (Sicklerville, NJ/Riverside) hit the crossbar late in the second half and even stopped a penalty kick by the Raptors'
Kelly Barbone (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional). Rutgers-Camden came out strong on the hot day on the turf at Rutgers-Camden Community Park. The Scarlet Raptors held a 14-1 shots advantage in the opening half and found the goal at 19:07. Senior midfielder
Rebecca Gougher (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) sent a perfect through ball up the middle of the NJCU defense. The speedy Fiore ran onto the ball and shot into the left side of the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.
That goal proved to be enough for the Raptors, who had plenty of opportunities and controlled play, but couldn't finish another goal. Hoffman's nine saves lifted her past the 500 milestone for her career. She now has 503.
Rutgers-Camden had a 13-1 advantage in shots and a 7-0 edge in corner kicks in the second half. The Raptors nearly took a 2-0 lead with 28:25 left after senior
Rachel Sindoni (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) was taken down in the box, but Hoffman saved Barbone's penalty kick toward the right post.
On the other end of the pitch, Raptor freshman goalie
Katie Gurba (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) needed to make only two saves to collect her fifth career shutout and lower her goal-against average to 0.93. The Gothic Knights had one shot on goal in each half, both coming on long restarts.
NJCU returns to action Wednesday with a 3 p.m. NJAC home game against Kean University.
Rutgers-Camden plays another NJAC home game on Wednesday when it entertains Rowan University at 7 p.m.
