CAMDEN, N.J. (Oct. 26, 2024) – The Kean University men's soccer team scored an early goal against the wind and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Senior Day here Saturday.
 
The loss drops the Scarlet Raptors to 8-6-4 overall and 4-2-2 in the NJAC, while Kean improves to 5-8-5 overall and 3-3-2 in conference play.
 
Kean has won its last five games against Rutgers-Camden and is 5-0-1 in the last six. The Cougars' last four wins have been by shutout scores.
 
Prior to the game, the Scarlet Raptors honored their six departing players in Sean Boen, Ethan Dreyer, Pedro Jovel-Castro, Aiden Kelley, Eric Swen and Nick Yurcho.
 
The Cougars scored the only goal they needed while going against the wind on a blustery day at the Camden Athletic Complex. Early in the game, senior midfielder Josser Amaya served a ball into the box that was clipped by fifth-year senior forward Balla Diaite, sending a looping popup into the top left corner of the goal. His first goal of the season came at 6:20.
 
Both teams held advantages in shots while going against the wind, with Kean taking an 8-7 shots advantage in the opening half and Rutgers-Camden outshooting the Cougars, 8-3, while pressing for the tying goal in the second half. Kean also held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks in the game.
 
Both Boen and Kean senior goalie Dominic Ridge made seven saves, with four of Ridge's stops coming in the second half.
 
The Scarlet Raptors close the regular season with a 7 p.m. game at Montclair State University on Wednesday. The Red Hawks are currently ranked 19th in the United Soccer Coaches Div. III Top 25 poll.