CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 2, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team played with a heavy heart and a lot of heart in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.
 
Despite the Scarlet Raptors' strong effort, however, the nationally-ranked College of New Jersey Lions proved to be a tough obstacle to overcome.
 
TCNJ scored an early first-half goal and then broke open the game with two goals in the last four minutes of the half on the way to a 5-1 victory over Rutgers-Camden.
 
The Lions, ranked No. 4 nationally in the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll and No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches Division III rankings, improve to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden falls to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
 
The night started with a moment of silence and a moving tribute to one of their own, as the Scarlet Raptors paid their respects to four-year star midfielder Tori Gerstenacker, who passed away Saturday following an automobile accident. Gerstenacker was a NJAC Honorable Mention player during all four of her seasons with the Raptors' soccer team from 2012-15. She also played three seasons of lacrosse and ran cross country at Rutgers-Camden, in addition to her numerous academic accomplishments.
 
Shortly after the tribute, however, the Raptors allowed a quick goal as the Lions took advantage of an uncleared ball in the box. Nikki Butler finished off her fifth goal of the season only 1:13 into the contest.
 
Throughout most of the opening half, the Scarlet Raptors turned in perhaps their finest effort of the season, shutting down the powerful Lions until one decisive late span. With only 3:45 remaining before halftime, TCNJ tacked on an insurance goal when Lindsay O'Keefe finished at the left post following a pass from Haley Bodden. Only 2:12 later, Ava Garay collected her fourth goal of the season, helping the Lions turn a tight 1-0 game into a 3-0 advantage at the half.
 
TCNJ's Lauren McLaughlin tallied an unassisted goal 11 minutes into the second half before Rutgers-Camden got on the scoreboard. Sophomore back Lindsey Rucci took a shot from outside the box that was blocked and deflected into the net by a TCNJ defender for an own goal. It was only the fourth goal against the Lions this season.
 
Jessica O'Brien closed the scoring at 86:18, assisted by O'Keefe, on a high shot from outside the box on the left side.
 
The Lions finished with a 15-2 advantage in shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. TCNJ senior keeper Nicole DiPasquale earned the win, playing the opening half and making one save. Junior Alexandra Panasuk made one save and had the own goal scored against her in the second half.
 
Raptor sophomore keeper Natalie Eberhardt had five saves.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday with a 12 p.m. NJAC game at New Jersey City University.