CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 19, 2019) – The New Jersey Athletic Conference is full of tough programs and potential hazards in men's soccer, and the Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors ran into one of them here Saturday.
 
Two days after shutting out nationally-ranked Rowan University, the Raptors allowed a pair of goals in the final eight minutes against another strong NJAC foe as they lost to Ramapo College, 3-1.
 
Senior forward Joseph Fala broke a 1-1 tie with a goal in the 83rd minute and added an insurance tally four minutes later for the Roadrunners, who improved to 8-1-5 overall and 3-1-2 in the NJAC.
 
Rutgers-Camden fell to 11-5-1 overall. The Raptors, who led the NJAC entering the game, are now locked in a three-way tie for first place with Rowan and Montclair State, all with 4-2-1 conference records.
 
With time winding down in regulation and the score knotted at 1-1, Ramapo freshman back Mark Buckel sent a long ball into the box from beyond midfield. The 6-foot-7 Fala headed a shot into the net at 82:13 for his ninth goal of the season. He added his 10th goal, and Ramapo's insurance tally, at 86:35 off an assist from senior midfielder Nick Petrozziello.
 
Petrozziello put the Roadrunners on the scoreboard at 26:01, taking a pass from freshman midfielder Raul Macedo in the right side of the box and sending a shot to the left.
 
Rutgers-Camden tied the game at 38:55 when senior forward/midfielder Cristian Ognibene notched his third goal of the season, and second of the week. He worked a perfect give-and-go with senior midfielder Chris Taraska, moving into the box and finishing with a shot to the left side.
 
Ramapo finished with a 13-7 advantage in shots, including a 10-3 margin in the second half as it beat Rutgers-Camden for the first time since 2010. The Scarlet Raptors lead the all-time series, 19-14-6.
 
The Raptors held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
Rutgers-Camden junior goalie Kieran Burns made three saves, while Ramapo junior keeper Joshua Schaffer had two.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. Senior Night celebration. They will host Penn State-Abington in a non-conference game.