CAMDEN, N.J. (Sept. 21, 2024) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team earned the 500th win in program history here Saturday and the Scarlet Raptors did it in impressive fashion.
 
Shaking off a five-game skid (0-3-2) and overcoming a one-goal halftime deficit against a strong opponent, the Raptors rallied to post a 4-1 victory over Lebanon Valley College.
 
Not only did Rutgers-Camden improve to 4-3, but the Raptors did it against a team that received votes toward the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll earlier in the week and has been ranked as high as 18th nationally this season.
 
Lebanon Valley College falls to 4-4.
 
During the first 10 seasons of the program (1958-67), Rutgers-Camden won only two games. Since Tim Oswald became the coach in 2006, Rutgers-Camden has posted a 229-116-53 record, giving Oswald 45.8 percent of all the victories in program history.
 
Overall, Rutgers-Camden is 500-514-114 since its first season in 1958.
 
Lebanon Valley College scored the lone goal of the first half at 35:51, with Simon Grimes finding the net, assisted by Aaron Weitzel.
 
Early in the second half, junior forward Ethan Steinbiss took a feed from junior back Grant Williams and notched the equalizer in the 53rd minute. The Scarlet Raptors broke the tie at 71:08 on a restart in the box, when freshman midfielder Youssef Montasser tapped the ball to junior midfielder Brandon Valeri, who drilled home a short shot to give the Raptors a 2-1 lead.
 
Montasser added another assist in the 74th minute, springing sophomore forward Isaiah Hamilton on a breakaway. The Raptors added the final goal when senior back/forward Pedro Jovel-Castro converted off a loose ball at the top of the box.
 
The Scarlet Raptors finished with a 12-7 advantage in shots, including 9-3 in the second half. Lebanon Valley held a 5-1 margin in corner kicks.
 
Rutgers-Camden senior keeper Sean Boen made three saves to earn the victory. Lebanon Valley graduate student goalie Dalton Fitterling made six saves in 85:49 of playing time before junior Ethan Bazydola finished the game, making no saves in 4:11.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Alvernia University at 7 p.m.