CAMDEN, N.J. (Nov. 2, 2024) – Rutgers University-Camden added another chapter to its stellar history under Head Coach Tim Oswald as the Scarlet Raptors defeated Rutgers University-Newark, 1-0, here Saturday in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championships.
 
The victory advanced the fourth-seeded Scarlet Raptors to Tuesday's 6 p.m. semifinal game at top-seeded Rowan University. It marks the 10th NJAC semifinal that the Scarlet Raptors have reached in their 15 trips to the conference tournament under Oswald, who is in his 19th season at the helm. Oswald, 234-119-56 in his Raptor tenure, has led his team to six NJAC finals, winning the conference title in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015.
 
The victory lifts Rutgers-Camden to 9-6-5 for the season, while Rutgers-Newark closes the year at 9-7-4.

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Although Rutgers-Camden is now 4-0-4 in its last eight meetings against Rutgers-Newark, Saturday's game marked the first time the teams didn't tie since the Raptors posted a 2-1 win in Newark on Oct. 23, 2021. The teams had played four straight ties since then, including 0-0 deadlocks in the previous three games, with one of them coming in Camden on Oct. 2 this season.
 
After the first half, it appeared the playoff game might be headed in the same direction, as the teams were scoreless at the break, despite Rutgers-Camden holding advantages of 5-3 in both shots and corner kicks. Both teams came close to scoring, however, as Raptor freshman forward Dylan Pino hit the crossbar in the 21st minute and Rutgers-Camden senior goalie Sean Boen made an incredible leaping save to deny a goal by Newark sophomore forward Erick Cortes in the 37th minute. Boen batted the shot clear of the upper right corner.
 
Early in the second half, Rutgers-Camden scored the only goal it needed, starting with senior back Nick Yurcho, who chipped a ball from near the midfield into the Newark box. Senior forward/back Eric Swen split a couple of defenders in the box and got enough on a shot to deposit it into the right side of the net at 48:41. It was his second goal of the season, with both of them being game winners. For Yurcho, it was his first assist.
 
Rutgers-Camden finished with a 13-9 advantage in shots and an 8-6 edge in corner kicks.
 
Newark senior goalie Pedro Flores finished with four saves, while Boen had three saves while earning his ninth shutout of the season. Seven of those shutouts have been by 1-0 scores, while the other two were 0-0 ties.