CAMDEN, N.J. (Sept. 8, 2019) – The talent level at the 19th annual Cialella Soccer Classic was so deep that all four teams posted 1-1 records over the two-day weekend event at Rutgers Camden Community Park.
 
With records being equal, the championship came down to the classic's pre-determined tie-breakers, and Rutgers-Camden had just enough of an edge to win its eighth Cialella Soccer Classic. Despite losing 1-0 Sunday against No. 2/11-ranked SUNY-Cortland, the Scarlet Raptors finished the event with a plus-1 goal differential. Cortland and Rowan University were both even in goal differential and the College of Staten Island was minus-one. Since Rowan beat Cortland, 1-0, on Saturday, the Profs finished second in the event, followed by Cortland and Staten Island.
 
In Sunday's action, Cortland and Staten Island forced the goal differential to come into play. Staten Island defeated Rowan, 2-1, in the opening game Sunday afternoon before Cortland edged Rutgers-Camden, 1-0.
 
The tournament saw three strong undefeated teams suffer their first defeat, as Rutgers-Camden left the event with a 4-1 record. Both Cortland and Rowan are now 3-1. Staten Island, which opened its season at the Cialella Soccer Classic, is 1-1.
 
By winning its first Cialella title since 2014, the Scarlet Raptors were able to place four players on the all-tournament team, including Defensive MVP Bobby Andrews and Offensive MVP Skyler Diggs, a pair of juniors. Also named to the all-tourney team from Rutgers-Camden were sophomore Kaito Kitazawa and senior Trenton Hall.
 
Rowan placed Moudou Sowe, Jay Vandermark and James Weinberg on the all-tourney team, while Cortland honorees included Blake Aronson and Miguel Tunas. Staten Island's Philip Lefkowitz and Ryan Layman rounded out the team.
 
The tournament is named after long-time Rutgers-Camden fixture Dr. Edward Cialella, who served as a student-athlete, coach, educator and athletic director at the school from the mid-1960s until his retirement in December, 2002.
   
The Dolphins won their first game of the year, receiving unassisted goals from Lefkowitz and Christian Puccio in the first 26:25 and holding off a comeback attempt by Rowan. The Profs' Wilby Alfred cut the margin to 2-1 at 29:46 when his original shot was blocked, but bounded behind Staten Island keeper Cristian Carucci. Alfred followed it up for the tap-in.
 
Rowan ended up out-shooting Staten Island, 8-2, in the second half and 16-8 in the game, but Carucci made eight saves to earn the win. The Profs also held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
 
Weinberg, who saved a penalty kick in Rowan's 1-0 win over Cortland Saturday, made four saves against Staten Island.
   
In a thrilling game between two great teams that appeared headed for overtime, Cortland altered the plan with the lone goal of the game in the 80th minute. Tunas, a senior midfielder, finished off a cross from the left side by sophomore midfielder Carlos Montesinos, scoring at the back post for the game's lone tally.
 
The contest featured stellar play by both defenses against potent attacks, while senior goalies Sean Kelly for Cortland and Kyler White for Rutgers-Camden came up with some big saves. White finished with five saves, while Kelly earned the shutout with three saves.
 
Camden held a 10-9 edge in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.