CAMDEN, N.J. (Sept. 22, 2018) – Freshman Michael Buchy entered Saturday's New Jersey Athletic Conference game as a defensive sub off the bench in the 73rd minute, but it was Buchy's offense that ended up winning the contest for the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team.
 
Buchy, pictured above, scored off a long shot from 40 yards out, floated over the goalie in the 81st minute to lift the Scarlet Raptors over Kean University, 1-0. Rutgers-Camden improves to 6-3-1 with its third win of the week, while knotting its NJAC record at 1-1. Kean falls to 4-3-1 and 0-2.
 
Buchy entered the game at 72:09 and exactly eight minutes later, his long shot found the left side of the net for his first collegiate goal and first game winner. He was assisted on the play by sophomore Connor D'Ilio, one of several players who turned in strong efforts to help the Scarlet Raptors control the midfield and the game in the second half.
 
Early in the contest, it was Kean which controlled the play, forcing a backsave and a tremendous save by Raptor senior goalie James Brett in the opening four minutes. Brett's save, at the right post off of Kean's Alex Nichol at 3:53, was part of an opening Cougar barrage that saw Kean collect two corner kicks and three shots before the Scarlet Raptors notched their first shot, a header by junior midfielder Patrick Grudnik at 6:01.
 
Aided by D'Ilio, Grudnik, juniors Zach Fox and Chris Taraska, and the strong play off the bench by freshman Liam Craver, however, the Scarlet Raptors eventually took over the game. Kean held a 12-7 advantage in shots in the opening half, but Rutgers-Camden outshot the Cougars, 8-3, and controlled most of the final 45 minutes as both teams finished with 15 shots and four corner kicks.
 
Brett notched three saves to notch his first shutout of the season and the 15th of his career. The three saves gave him 392 for his career, moving into third place on the program's all-time list, past Eric Gray, who had 391 from 1995-97. Brett's 36th career win also broke a tie for third place on the career list with David Cunningham (2003-06).
 
Kean senior keeper Derek Phells made four saves.
 
The Scarlet Raptors play another NJAC home game Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they entertain nationally-ranked The College of New Jersey. The Lions entered Saturday's conference game against Ramapo College with a No. 19 ranking in the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll before dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to fall to 7-2 on the season.