NEWARK, N.J. (Oct. 23, 2021) – With its back to the wall in the chase for a New Jersey Athletic Conference playoff spot, the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team staved off elimination here Saturday night and put itself in control of its own destiny.
 
Rutgers-Camden rallied for a pair of second-half goals to defeat Rutgers-Newark, 2-1, and lift itself to 12 points in the race for one of the six NJAC playoff spots. The Scarlet Raptors improved to 8-7-2 overall and 4-4 in the conference, while Newark suffered its first NJAC loss.
 
The Scarlet Raiders are 11-4-3 overall and 4-1-3 in the NJAC after their 12-game unbeaten streak (9-0-3) was snapped.
 
The victory was Camden's third straight over Newark in their head-to-head series and raised the Scarlet Raptors' record against their sister school to 13-2 in the last 15 meetings, dating back to 2010.
 
Although the Scarlet Raptors still stand seventh in the conference standings, they can earn a playoff berth if they defeat Rowan University in their final NJAC game, a home contest at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Rowan, Stockton and The College of New Jersey are all tied at 13 points. Stockton and TCNJ, who both have the head-to-head tie-breaker against Rutgers-Camden by virtue of a victory over the Scarlet Raptors, square off in another NJAC game on the final day of the regular season.
 
Newark scored its lone goal on a penalty kick by junior forward Franco Catania in the 43rd minute after Catania was fouled in the box.
 
The Scarlet Raiders held an 11-7 advantage in shots in the opening half and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks, but only managed the one goal. Early in the second half, Rutgers-Camden senior forward Skyler Diggs notched the tying goal off a restart, assisted by senior midfielder Christian McCartney. It was Diggs' ninth goal of the season and the 41st of his career, tying Mike Zeno (1992-95) for fourth place on the program's all-time list.
 
The Scarlet Raptors broke the tie in the 83rd minute on an own goal as Newark put the ball in its own net while attempting to clear it.
 
Newark finished with a 21-11 advantage in shots, including a 15-5 margin in shots on goal. The Scarlet Raiders also held an 11-3 lead in corner kicks.
 
Scarlet Raptor sophomore goalie Sean Boen finished with 13 saves, and was aided by a backsave, in raising his season record to 4-2. Senior keeper Andres Medina had three saves for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Before Rutgers-Camden faces off against Rowan on Wednesday, the Scarlet Raptors will host Penn State-Abington Monday at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game.