CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 21, 2023) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer program had plenty to celebrate here Saturday as the Scarlet Raptors honored a trio of Senior Day athletes and welcomed back members of the 2013 team that reached the NCAA championship game.
 
In the end, it was 11th-ranked Montclair State University that produced its own celebration as the Red Hawks clinched the regular-season New Jersey Athletic Conference title with a 5-0 victory over Rutgers-Camden.
 
Montclair State improved to 14-2-1 overall and 8-0 in the conference with one last regular-season game remaining when it entertains 20th-ranked Kean University Wednesday. The Red Hawks clinched the top seed in the upcoming NJAC playoffs, which begin Saturday, Oct. 28.
 
Rutgers-Camden, meanwhile, fell to 8-6-3 overall and 3-3-2 in conference play.
 
Prior to the game, the Scarlet Raptors celebrated Senior Day by honoring goalie Connor Smith, forward Khylei Neal and back Quincy Attobrah. At halftime, Rutgers-Camden welcomed back many members of the 2013 team, which finished 23-1-2, losing only in the NCAA finals, 2-1 in double overtime, against Messiah University.

Senior Day photo gallery                    2013 reunion photo gallery
 
By halftime, however, Montclair State was well on its way to wrapping up the regular-season NJAC title, holding a commanding 4-0 lead. The Red Hawks scored 10:19 into the game when an apparent handball wasn't called and all-conference junior midfielder Amer Lukovic broke up the center of the pitch, splitting a pair of Raptor defenders and tucking a shot into the left side of the net, past Smith. For Lukovic, the odds on favorite to be the NJAC Player of the Year, it was his 26th goal, more than doubling the next-highest total in the conference.
 
Montclair State added a second goal at 24:23 when sophomore midfielder Reed Karsen finished a pass from the right side by senior midfielder Osmin Mendez. Junior midfielder Andre Shelton scored at 36:46, assisted by junior midfielder Owen Murphy, and Shelton assisted on the fourth goal of the half at 41:24, scored by freshman forward Salem Ellisy.
 
The Red Hawks closed out the scoring in the 74th minute on an unassisted goal by sophomore midfielder Chris Fontanazza from a mass of bodies inside the box.
 
Montclair finished with a 27-6 advantage in shots, including 14-1 on goal. The Red Hawks also had a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Smith finished with nine saves. Red Hawk starter Shane Keenan made one save in 73:08 minutes of playing time, while senior Boris Del Valle didn't need to make any saves in his 16:52 minutes of work.
 
Rutgers-Camden closes the regular season Wednesday with a 6 p.m. NJAC game at The College of New Jersey.