GALLOWAY, N.J. (March 20, 2021) – With the pandemic-altered New Jersey Athletic Conference winding down toward the playoffs, the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team finds itself in an unfamiliar position.
 
The Scarlet Raptors dropped into fifth place in the NJAC standings, a spot that would necessitate a road playoff game, as they dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision against Stockton University here Saturday.
 
With Kean University ending its men's soccer season due to injuries and numbers, the Scarlet Raptors' scheduled home game on Wednesday night has been cancelled. Rutgers-Camden also has a bye next Saturday, so the Scarlet Raptors won't be back in action again until they travel to NJAC-leading Montclair State University at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31. That game is the final regular-season contest before the NJAC playoffs begin.
 
The loss drops Rutgers-Camden to 1-2-1 overall and in the NJAC, while Stockton evens its record at 2-2/2-2.
 
In a tight contest which saw both teams take nine shots and the Raptors hold a 6-5 edge in corner kicks, the lone goal of the game came midway through the second half. Senior forward Dante Montesinos nailed a shot into the lower left corner at 64:45, assisted by freshman back Connor Smith.
 
Stockton put six of its shots on goal, forcing Rutgers-Camden sophomore goalie Juan Bahena to make five saves. The lone Raptor shot on goal came in the first half by junior midfielder Liam Craver, which was the only save that Stockton senior keeper Dino Gromitsaris needed to make to notch the shutout.