GLASSBORO, N.J. (Nov. 5, 2024) – The top-seeded Rowan University men's soccer team scored the lone goal of the game early in the second half and went on to eliminate fourth-seeded Rutgers University-Camden, 1-0, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference semifinals here Tuesday night.
 
Rowan, ranked 12th nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Division III Top 25 poll, advances to the NJAC title game, which it will host at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Profs, who will enter the game with a 11-4-5 record and a seven-game winning streak, will face third-seeded Stockton University, which upset second-seeded Montclair State University, 2-1, Tuesday.
 
Rutgers-Camden, playing in its 10th NJAC semifinal in the 19 years under Head Coach Tim Oswald, closes its season at 9-7-5. The Scarlet Raptors had tied Rowan, 1-1, in a regular-season game Oct. 5.
 
In the scoreless first half, both teams had spurts of momentum and both the shots (5-5) and corner kicks (2-2) were even. Rutgers-Camden, however, put three of its shots on goal, forcing Rowan senior goalie Dylan Aportela to make three saves. Rutgers-Camden senior keeper Sean Boen didn't need to make a first-half save, although with 2:34 remaining in the half, he charged out of the net to force Rowan junior forward Johnny Troiano to shoot wide right on a one-on-one.
 
Rowan broke the scoreless deadlock at 56:17 when junior back Ryan Cleary struck from the left side of the box, sliding a shot across the goal into the right side. He was assisted by a pair of junior midfielders, Davide Caputo and Jason Barragan.
 
Rutgers-Camden applied plenty of pressure looking for the tying goal, but Aportela and the Rowan defense maintained the shutout. The Scarlet Raptors finished with a 13-10 advantage in shots (4-2 in shots on goal) and an 8-6 margin in corner kicks.
 
Aportela finished with three saves and was aided by a backsave, while Boen finished with one save.