EWING, N.J. (October 16, 2024) – For most of the first half here Wednesday night, the Rutgers University-Camden women's soccer team was able to contain the dangerous offense of The College of New Jersey.
 
In a short span before halftime, however, the nationally-ranked Lions exploded for three goals and they went on to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 4-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game.
 
TCNJ, ranked 10th in this week's United Soccer Coaches Division III Top 25 poll, improved to 11-0-2 overall and 5-0 in the NJAC with its sixth straight victory. The Scarlet Raptors fell to 6-7-2 overall and 1-4 in the NJAC.
 
TCNJ, a perennial national powerhouse, now holds a 23-1 lead in its all-time series against Rutgers-Camden. The Lions have won the last 20 meetings between the teams, including 17 by shutout margins.
 
Although the Lions had first-half advantages of 10-1 in shots and 4-0 in corner kicks, Rutgers-Camden kept the game scoreless until 37:59, when senior midfielder Victoria D'Imperio scored the first goal of a quick hat trick. She scored again at 40:58, assisted by senior back Ava Curtis, and completed her hat trick at 44:09, raising her season goal total to nine in a span of 6:10.
 
The Lions tacked on their final goal in the 64th minute when freshman midfielder Jenny Ward notched her fourth goal of the year, assisted by freshman forward Emily Weidner.
 
TCNJ finished with a 26-2 advantage in shots, including an 11-0 margin in shots on goal. Rutgers-Camden's lone shots were by freshman forward Asia Horne in the first half and graduate student midfielder Jazmin Brown in the second half.
 
Freshman goalie Ellen Williams didn't need to make a save to earn the shutout for TCNJ. Rutgers-Camden split goalies, with senior Michaela Graham working the first half, allowing three goals and making three saves, and sophomore keeper Jordana Fredo making four second-half saves while allowing one goal.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday with an 11 a.m. NJAC game at New Jersey City University.