CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 27, 2018) – Although the final result wasn't what the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team was seeking in its first trip to the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs in 11 years, the Scarlet Raptors clearly proved that they belong among the NJAC's top programs and are only going to get stronger.
 
Montclair State University junior Emma McLaughlin headed in the game-winning goal with 1:35 remaining in regulation to lift the fifth-seeded Red Hawks over the fourth-seeded Scarlet Raptors, 2-1, here Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NJAC tournament.
 
Montclair (10-3-5) advances to Wednesday's semifinals game at top-seeded The College of New Jersey. Rutgers-Camden (8-8-2) will await a possible berth in the ECAC Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.
 
The Scarlet Raptors' run to the NJAC playoffs included a 5-2-2 mark in conference play, which earned them the third seed in the six-team tournament and also tied the program's best NJAC mark ever, set in 2003. That 2003 season was the only time the Raptors hosted a conference tournament game until Saturday, when they played in their first overall NJAC playoff game since 2007.
 
The game remained scoreless until early in the second half, when MSU sophomore Kaitlyn Scrivanich headed home a ball that was sent into the box from the right side by Maddie Musico. Scrivanich's second goal of the season came at 46:58.
 
Rutgers-Camden notched the tying tally seven minutes later after a flurry in the box near the goal line. Freshman Breana Winder played the ball out to senior midfielder Melissa Peel at the top of the box. Peel (pictured above) lofted in a shot for her second goal of the season.
 
The Red Hawks nearly took the lead in the 71st minute when Emily DeGeyter hit a long shot off the crossbar, but they finally broke the deadlock with 1:35 remaining. A corner kick by DeGeyter was finished by McLaughlin's header at 88:25.
 
Montclair State finished with a 12-9 edge in shots, although both teams were even in the second half with five shots apiece. Rutgers-Camden held a slight 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
 
Sophomore goalie Natalie Eberhardt made three saves for the Scarlet Raptors while freshman Lindsay Freewalt had four saves for Montclair State.