SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 14, 2021) – It didn't take long before Rutgers University-Camden found itself fighting from behind here Sunday in the semifinals of the ECAC Division III Men's Soccer Championships.
Fourth-seeded Muhlenberg College scored a goal only 7:04 into the contest and the Scarlet Raptors never recovered as they were eliminated from the ECAC tournament, 2-0, in the finals of Pod 2.
Muhlenberg (9-7-2) will play the Pod 1 winner, Rutgers-Newark, next weekend in the ECAC title match at a time to be determined. Newark defeated Penn State-Behrend, 4-2, in the final of Pod 1.
The Mules scored on a strike by junior midfielder Chris Richards, assisted by junior forward Taylan Akdag only 7:04 into the game. Akdag centered the ball into the box from the left wing for Richards, who took a touch and shot into the lower left corner.
Things didn't get any better from there for the Scarlet Raptors, as Akdag assisted on a goal by freshman midfielder Kevin Adams, who headed in a cross at 21:55.
Muhlenberg nearly added another goal at 59:23 on a shot by freshman midfielder Noah Pietila, but Raptor sophomore back
Quincy Attobrah made the backsave and booted the ball away. Attobrah later made a defensive save on a shot by Richards.
Rutgers-Camden's best chances came on a pair of corner kicks in the 69th minute, but Muhlenberg sophomore goalie Zach Matik punched out the second corner to preserve his shutout.
Muhlenberg held a 16-8 advantage in shots, including a 7-3 margin in shots on goal. The Scarlet Raptors finished with a slim 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Both goalies, Raptor freshman
Sean Boen and Muhlenberg's Matik, finished with three saves. The Raptors also had the two backsaves by Attobrah.
Rutgers-Camden closes its season with a 9-9-2 record. They are 17-4 in eight ECAC tournaments under Head Coach
Tim Oswald, who has led the team to four ECAC titles (2006, 2007, 2010 and 2014), one runnerup spot (2017), one semifinal berth (this season) and two quarterfinal berths (2016, 2018).
Overall, in Rutgers-Camden men's soccer history, the team has competed in 11 ECAC tournaments, posting a 17-7 record.
