GLASSBORO, N.J. (August 31, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team rebounded from a quick deficit and went on to defeat New York University, 3-2, in the season-opening game for both teams here Friday at Rowan University's two-day Gilmore Classic.
 
In their second game at the Gilmore Classic, the Scarlet Raptors face Keystone College Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
The season didn't start out well for the Scarlet Raptors, as NYU scored only 3:07 into the game on a header by Owen Smith. He finished a cross from the left side by Louis Meeks.
 
It didn't take long for Rutgers-Camden to get even. Junior midfielder Patrick Grudnik ripped a shot from just outside the box that found the top right corner at 14:41, tying the contest at 1-1.
 
The Scarlet Raptors struck again at 25:23 on a tally by sophomore forward Skyler Diggs. Diggs, who scored seven goals as a freshman, tapped his first goal of the season into the lower left corner after receiving a low cross into the box from freshman back Michael Funaro. It was the first collegiate point for Funaro, a former All-South Jersey and All-State star from Washington Township High School.
 
The Raptors took that 2-1 margin into the second half, but NYU pressed for the tying goal, only to be denied by three saves in the opening eight minutes of the period by Raptor senior keeper James Brett.
 
Rutgers-Camden added its third goal at 75:18 when freshman midfielder Andres Uribe collected a loose ball in the box and shot into the lower left side, producing his first collegiate points.
 
The two-goal lead didn't last long for the Raptors, however, as NYU cut the margin only 2:20 later on a goal by Oliver Kleban, assisted by Smith. The Violets, however, only managed two more shots the rest of the game in their bid to get the tying goal. One shot was high and the final shot, with 4:18 remaining, was saved by Brett.
 
Brett finished with 10 saves, while NYU keeper Grant Engle had four.  NYU held a 13-11 edge in shots and a 4-2 margin in corner kicks.
 
The victory was the first opening-day win for Rutgers-Camden since a 9-0 pasting of Rosemont College in 2015. The Scarlet Raptors had tied their 2016 season opener (3-3 against St. Mary's College of Maryland) and lost last season's first game (2-0 against Lycoming College).
 
Rutgers-Camden is now 8-4-1 in its 13 season openers under Head Coach Tim Oswald, who improved his Scarlet Raptor coaching record to an amazing 100 games over .500. Oswald, the program's all-time leader in coaching victories by far, now owns a 173-73-33 record at Rutgers-Camden.