CAMDEN, N.J. (Sept. 16, 2018) – In the 21-year history of the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer program, the Scarlet Raptors had managed only one point against powerful Montclair State University heading into Saturday's New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
 
With a deep and talented young team, however, the Scarlet Raptors battled the Red Hawks on even footing throughout 110 minutes as the two teams played to a 1-1 double-overtime tie at Rutgers-Camden Community Park. The deadlock leaves the Raptors with a 2-3-1 record overall. Montclair State, which received votes this week toward both the United Soccer Coaches and D3soccer.com Top 25 polls, stands at 4-0-2, snapping its three-game winning streak.
 
Both teams are 0-0-1 in the NJAC.
 
The only other tie the Scarlet Raptors managed in their 21-game history against Montclair State came in a 0-0 deadlock on Sept. 21, 2002 in Camden. The Red Hawks, who now hold a 19-0-2 lead in the all-time series, had won the last 16 games in the series, including a pair in 2004 when they also won a NJAC playoff game in addition to the regular-season contest. Of those 16 straight wins, 10 of them were shutouts for the Red Hawks.
 
Rutgers-Camden served notice that things weren't going to be as easy this time around as the two teams played to a 0-0 halftime tie in which Montclair State held a slim 3-2 edge in shots. The Red Hawks had all four corner kicks in the half, all being bunched in a two-minute span midway through the opening 45 minutes.
 
With a superb defensive effort out of the back by freshmen Breana Winder, Sophia Spadano and Lindsey Rucci and senior Brielle Stoner, Rutgers-Camden managed to shut down one of the NJAC's most dangerous players almost all day in MSU junior forward Emily Beenders. The Raptors also got a stellar effort from sophomore goalie Natalie Eberhardt (pictured above), who made several big saves on her way to nine for the game. The Raptors also had a backsave in the contest.
 
With the game still scoreless late in the second half, Beenders finally put Montclair State on the scoreboard after being sprung down the left side on a pass from Michaela Knoblock. Beenders angled her team-leading seventh goal into the right side of the net at 75:52.
 
Rutgers-Camden kept up its pressure and the Raptors' hard work finally paid off in the game-tying goal at 79:03. A corner kick by junior midfielder Sarah Zuzulock fell perfectly in the box for freshman forward Ava Pizzaro, who finished off her second goal of the season from out front on the far left side.
 
Both teams had scoring chances in overtime, with Eberhardt making four saves, including rushing out of the box near the final horn to stuff a point-blank shot by Beenders.
 
MSU finished with its 16-10 advantage in shots and a 7-1 margin in corner kicks. Lindsay Freewalt made four saves for the Red Hawks.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Monday with a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Rosemont College.