WAYNE, N.J. (Sept. 24, 2022) – After scoring only three goals and collecting one assist in their first six games, the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team opened the floodgates here Saturday in its first New Jersey Athletic Conference game of the season.
 
Sophomore Hannah Crowley notched two goals and the Scarlet Raptors exploded for a 4-1 victory over William Paterson University in the conference opener for both teams.
 
The win was the second in three games for the Scarlet Raptors, who improved to 2-4-1 and gave first-year Head Coach Kevin Luber his first NJAC win in his first conference game. Paterson falls to 1-5-3 overall and 0-1 in the NJAC.
 
Crowley got the Scarlet Raptors started only 7:17 into the game when she scored off a cross from the left side by senior Brianna Baer. Rutgers-Camden added what proved to be the winning goal in the 25th minute when sophomore midfielder Josie Jackson-Conner chipped over freshman keeper Sarah Mantilla following a feed from senior midfielder Lindsay Hernandez.
 
Jackson-Connor's goal came at 24:34 and less than one minute later, at 25:22, Crowley added her second goal of the game and team-leading third goal of the season. She was assisted by senior midfielder Maggie Horn.
 
Rutgers-Camden held an 8-4 advantage in shots and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks during the first half on the way to a 12-10 lead in shots and a 4-1 corner kick lead in the game.
 
In the second half, Paterson broke the Raptors' shutout bid when junior forward Julie Fiorito finished into the left corner. Her goal, at 70:15, was assisted by junior Elisa Zuta.
 
Once again, Rutgers-Camden struck quickly after a goal was scored. At 72:51, Horn scored from the left side following a free kick by sophomore centerback Amy Maurer. Maurer's assist was the fourth of the game for the Scarlet Raptors, whose only previous assist of the season was by Jackson-Conner in a 2-2 tie against Alvernia Sept. 7.
 
Sophomore goalie Michaela Graham finished with five saves for the Scarlet Raptors as she registered her first career win. Mantilla also had five saves for the Pioneers.
 
After playing four of their last five games on the road, the Scarlet Raptors return home Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. NJAC game against Ramapo College.