EWING, N.J. (Nov. 1, 2025) – Bad things always seem to happen for the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team when it visits The College of New Jersey, and nothing changed for the Scarlet Raptors here Saturday night in the New Jersey Athletic Conference quarterfinals.
 
The fifth-seeded Raptors allowed a goal only 16 seconds into the contest and fourth-seeded TCNJ went on to defeat Rutgers-Camden, 5-1.
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TCNJ, 10-4-5, will play a semifinal game Wednesday at 7 p.m. at top-ranked Montclair State. Rutgers-Camden closes its season at 7-8-4.
 
The result was the second time the Raptors lost at TCNJ this season, including a 2-0 defeat on October 15, but more amazing is the fact that Rutgers-Camden fell to 0-9-4 at TCNJ since its last win in Ewing in 2003. On the flip side, the Scarlet Raptors are 9-1 in Camden against TCNJ since then, losing only in 2010.
 
The Scarlet Raptors held advantages of 16-3 in shots and 5-2 in corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, but it was TCNJ that put goals on the scoreboard. And the Lions didn't waste any time getting that job done.
 
The Lions scored only 16 seconds into the game when junior midfielder Matias Hornos hit a shot into the top right side of the net for his third goal of the season. TCNJ doubled its lead at the 19:33 mark when freshman forward Matt Will hit a shot into the left side of the net for his ninth goal of the season, assisted by both freshmen midfielders Manny Thatcher and Aiden Grund.
 
Rutgers-Camden's pressure finally paid off in the 55th minute when sophomore midfielder Dylan Pino sent a low shot into the right side of the net for his fourth goal of the season. He was assisted by freshman midfielder Willyam Veiga.
 
Just when the Scarlet Raptors felt like they were back in the game, the Lions put the game away. Senior midfielder Massimo Rodio scored his fourth goal of the season in the 59th minute, assisted by junior midfielder/forward Chris Meder. Nine minutes later, freshman midfielder Aidan Ayar scored his fourth goal of the year, assisted by Meder and senior midfielder J.J. Zaun.
 
Junior midfielder/forward added the final goal in the 88th minute, assisted by junior back Julien DeLorenzo.
 
Rutgers-Camden held advantages of 31-12 in shots and 9-2 in corner kicks, but only an 8-7 edge in shots on goal.
 
Scarlet Raptor junior goalie Chris Clune finished with two saves, while Lions freshman keeper Sean Najdzinowicz finished with six saves.