Box Score

UNION, N.J. (Oct. 3, 2015) – Sophomore forward Sev Kherlopian (Bradley Beach, NJ/Demarest) notched the game-winning goal 4:50 into the first overtime period after his Kean University team had lost a two-goal lead late in regulation, helping the Cougars survive with a 3-2 victory over Rutgers University-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men's soccer showdown here Saturday.
 
The Cougars, who received nine votes toward the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll released Tuesday, improve to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC with their ninth consecutive win.
 
The Scarlet Raptors, ranked No. 17 in this week's D3soccer.com Top 25 poll, fall to 8-2-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference, snapping a five-game winning streak and a seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1).
 
It was the Cougars' first victory over the Scarlet Raptors since a 2-1 double-overtime victory in Camden on Sept. 25, 2010. Rutgers-Camden had won the last four in the series and eight of the last nine, although Kean now leads the all-time series, 29-14-1.
 
Kherlopian, who also scored the Cougars' first goal, rose above a crowd in the box to score the winning goal off a long volley by junior midfielder Robert Barrera (Elizabeth, NJ/Union). The two goals raised his season total to 13. Kherlopian, who led the nation in game-winning goals in this week's latest NCAA Division III statistics, now has five winners this season.
 
For a while, it didn't appear overtime would become an issue. Kean broke a scoreless deadlock 10 minutes into the second half and added another goal with 22:26 remaining in regulation to grab a 2-0 lead. The Scarlet Raptors, however, cut their gap to one goal with 14:22 remaining when senior forward Mike Ryan (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) hit a 30-yard shot into the net for his 12th goal of the season.
 
With time winding down in regulation, the Cougars were called for a foul just outside of the box. Ryan took the 20-yard shot and deflected it off the top of the wall and into the net with 4:12 remaining, tying the game. Not only was the goal his 13th of the season, it raised his career totals to 70 goals and 156 points. Already Rutgers-Camden's career leader in both categories, he is now one goal and two points shy of tying for fourth place in each category among the all-time NJAC leaders.
 
After a scoreless first half in which the Cougars held a slim 8-6 advantage in shots, Kean's high-scoring offense broke the scoring ice. The Cougars, who led all of Division III in assists (40), assists per game (3.6), shots per game (27.5) and shots on goal per game (13.4) in the latest NCAA statistics, saw a shot by Kherlopian carom off a Raptor defender and into the net at the 55:03 mark. Kean tacked on a second goal with 22:26 left in regulation as freshman midfielder Vaughn Cusano (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong) scored off the rebound of his own saved shot.
 
The Cougars finished with a 26-12 advantage in shots in a game that saw five yellow cards and one red card, which forced the Scarlet Raptors to play short-handed the final 29:58. Kean also held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
 
Raptor freshman goalie James Brett (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) made seven saves and his team added one backsave. Kean freshman keeper Chidi Iloka (Trenton, NJ/Nottingham) had six saves.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday when they host Haverford College in a 7 p.m. non-conference game.