CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 13, 2018) – When four-year Rutgers University-Camden letterwinners Melissa Peel and Liz DiCamillo started their Scarlet Raptor soccer career as freshmen in 2015, the team finished 2-5-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference during another season where it didn't qualify for the NJAC playoffs.
 
The Scarlet Raptors have come a long way since then, and on a cool Saturday afternoon at Rutgers-Camden Community Park, they celebrated Senior Day with a 2-0 win over Ramapo College to nail down their first NJAC playoff berth since 2007. Over the past four years, the Raptors' senior class added Brielle Stoner, a transfer from Kutztown University in 2016, and Lexis Evans, who joined the team in 2017 after playing two years at Nyack College.
 
Not only were Peel, DiCamillo, Evans and Stoner all honored with a pre-game Senior Day ceremony, but they all joined their teammates in another historic milestone for the Rutgers-Camden women's program. The Scarlet Raptors lifted their record to 7-5-2, while stretching their unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1). They also nailed down only the third winning NJAC regular-season record in program history, hiking their record to 4-1-2 in the conference with two NJAC games remaining. Only the teams from 2003 (5-2-2 in NJAC play) and 2005 (5-4) had more conference wins, another milestone that the 2018 team could break.
 
The Scarlet Raptors scored the only goal they needed only 6:24 into the contest after freshman back Sophia Spadano fed sophomore forward Meghan Wachira, who lofted a long shot from outside the box on the right side. Her team-leading ninth goal of the season was tucked into the opposite side of the net and ended up being her fifth game-winning goal of the season. It was the first collegiate point for Spadano, one of the three outstanding freshmen who joined Stoner in anchoring the Raptors' back line.
 
Wachira now owns 12 game-winning goals for her young career, tying Jacci Giannone (2002-04) for second on the program's all-time list. She is only one behind the program record of 13, held by Heather Greenwald (2001-04).
 
Wachira also owns 22 goals overall in her career and is now tied for seventh on the all-time program list with Catherine Fiore (2013-16).
 
The Scarlet Raptors added an insurance goal in the 57th minute when freshman Ava Pizzaro headed home a corner kick by junior Sarah Zuzulock. It was the fifth goal of the season for Pizzaro and the second assist for Zuzulock, who played another stellar game in the center midfield.
 
Defensively, meanwhile, DiCamillo made five saves – all in the second half – as she nailed down her first career shutout. Rutgers-Camden out-shot Ramapo, 13-9, overall, while the Roadrunners held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
 
For Ramapo (2-11 overall, 1-6 NJAC) Elizabeth Harvell made five saves in goal.
 
Rutgers-Camden takes a break from NJAC play on Wednesday when it entertains Ursinus College in a 7 p.m. non-conference game. The Scarlet Raptors finish up their regular-season schedule with a pair of NJAC games, playing Oct. 20 at William Paterson University (5 p.m.) and home on Oct. 24 against Stockton University (7 p.m.)