Box Score
CAMDEN, N.J. (Sept. 7, 2016) – The last time the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team was 2-1 three games into the season, most of its players hadn't entered high school.
The Scarlet Raptors, however, put some of those ghosts to rest here Wednesday afternoon, rallying from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat Alvernia University, 3-2. Rutgers-Camden improves to 2-1 for the first time since 2009, while Alvernia falls to 1-1.
On a day where the Scarlet Raptors out-shot the Crusaders, 23-13, only to be frustrated by several missed opportunities, Rutgers-Camden broke a 2-2 tie with 6:08 remaining in regulation. Freshman
Nicolette Stafford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) tucked in the rebound of a saved shot off the foot of senior teammate
Catherine Fiore (Collingswood, NJ/Paul VI), making her first collegiate goal a game winner.
The Scarlet Raptors had many first-half chances, out-shooting the Crusaders, 13-7, but it was Alvernia that scored the lone goal in the opening 45 minutes. A diagonal pass from the middle by sophomore midfielder
Johnna Shank (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) sprung senior back
Erica Dunkelberger (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) on a breakaway. She fired a 30-yard shot over the head of Raptor junior keeper
Katie Gurba (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) at the near left post in the 39th minute.
Rutgers-Camden tied the game at 52:51 after a series of fine passes, started when Fiore centered the ball to sophomore back
Maggie Sande (Medford, NJ/Shawnee). Sande slipped a pass ahead for junior back
Aubrey Andrews (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights), who tucked it inside the near post.
The Raptors took a 2-1 lead 14 minutes later when junior
Rachel Fanrak (Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI) tapped in a goal off a loose ball in the box following a corner kick by sophomore
Melissa Peel (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology). It was Fanrak's first collegiate goal.
Alvernia tied the game at 69:42 when Shank deflected a shot in the box by senior
Bailey Stover (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) to score her second goal of the year.
In addition to its 23-13 advantage in shots, Rutgers-Camden held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Alvernia junior keeper
Jessica Plunkett (Leola, PA/Conestoga Valley) made nine saves, while Gurba had five for the Raptors.
Rutgers-Camden will play Drew University Saturday at 1 p.m. in its first game at the Drew Fall Festival. The Scarlet Raptors play Moravian College at 1 p.m. Sunday in the same tournament.
Alvernia hosts the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg in its home opener Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
