GLASSBORO, N.J. (August 30, 2019) – Forward Joni Gjyleri spent last year overseas after a stellar freshman season for the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team in 2017.
 
Gjyleri didn't take long to make his presence felt in his return to collegiate soccer.
 
Gjyleri scored the only goal of the game to help the Scarlet Raptors edge Carthage College (Kenosha, Wisconsin), 1-0, in the season opener for both teams here Friday at Rowan University's two-day Gilmore Classic.
 
The Scarlet Raptors raised their record to 9-4-1 in season openers under 14th-year Head Coach Tim Oswald, who now owns a 187-79-35 record during his Rutgers-Camden career.
 
Gjyleri and the Scarlet Raptors didn't waste any time starting the season. He scored only 9:21 into the opener, banging a shot from the right side off the left post and into the net for his second career game winner. His first game-winning goal came on Oct. 7, 2017 against New Jersey City University. It also was Gjyleri's first collegiate goal overall since a tally against Lancaster Bible on Oct. 19, 2017.
 
Senior back Trenton Hall picked up an assist on the goal and spent the rest of the day aiding a strong defensive effort, anchored by junior goalie Kieran Burns, who made four saves in his second career shutout. Burns raised his career record to 7-0.
 
Carthage held an 8-6 edge in shots, while Rutgers-Camden held a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Carthage goalie Niko Mavrogiannis made three saves.
 
In their second game at the Gilmore Classic, the Scarlet Raptors face The College of Mount Saint Vincent, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.