CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 27, 2018) – When the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team hosted William Paterson University on Oct. 20, the Scarlet Raptors collected a pair of goals in the final seven minutes to post a 3-1 win.
 
The Pioneers turned the tables one week later as they defeated the Scarlet Raptors, 2-1, on the same field to eliminate Rutgers-Camden from the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs.
 
Sixth-seeded Paterson, 12-6-1, advances to Tuesday's semifinal action, where it will play a 2 p.m. game at second-seeded Ramapo College. Third-seeded Rutgers-Camden, 13-5-2, will have to wait to see if it earns an ECAC or, possibly, NCAA tournament bid in a week.
 
Paterson dominated the first half against Rutgers-Camden, out-shooting the Scarlet Raptors, 13-3, in the opening 45 minutes. For all that control, however, the Pioneers only managed a goal at 30:31 when Kyle Adams scored the first of his two goals on the day. Christopher Fuentes sent a cross from the left side into the box, where it deflected off a Scarlet Raptor and was finished by Adams at the far post.
 
Although it was the only goal the Pioneers scored, it wasn't for a lack of opportunities. In the opening 10 minutes, Raptor junior back Trenton Hall made a backsave and senior goalie James Brett collected a terrific save off another Adams shot. Late in the half, a restart by Paterson's Cameron Allen was saved by Brett and the Pioneers also missed on a close-range shot by Fuentes, that sailed over the crossbar.
 
Rutgers-Camden picked up its pace in the second half and took only 1:49 after the break to notch the tying goal. A long restart by junior midfielder Chris Taraska was sent to the far right post, where it was headed into the net by sophomore midfielder Connor D'Ilio (pictured above). It was D'Ilio's first goal of the season and the team-leading eighth assist for Taraska.
 
Rutgers-Camden thought it had taken the lead a few minutes later, but an apparent goal by senior back Brian Palangi was nullified by a foul call in the box.
 
Paterson broke the tie at 72:57 after Connor Sweeney hit a shot off the crossbar that fell to Adams, who finished his second goal of the game and fourth of the season.
 
In the 86th minute, Paterson's Allen drilled a restart off the crossbar in an attempt to provide an insurance goal.
 
The Pioneers finished with a 16-10 advantage in shots, while both teams had four corner kicks. Brett made three saves for the Scarlet Raptors and was aided by Hall's backsave. Kyle Quigley finished with six saves for William Paterson.