CAMDEN, N.J. (Aug. 29, 2025) – When the first whistle sounded for the season opener, the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team was ready.
The Scarlet Raptors dominated a St. John Fisher team that was coming off an NCAA appearance last season as Rutgers-Camden rolled to a 4-0 victory in the 24th annual Cialella Soccer Classic here Friday. The event, named after former Rutgers-Camden athlete, coach and athletic director Ed Cialella, took on a new format this season after years of being only a men's soccer event. The Rutgers-Camden women capped the two-game event with a contest later on Friday.
At halftime Rutgers-Camden paid tribute to former Scarlet Raptors
Julian Naumenko, a freshman goalie on the 2024 team who passed away in an automobile accident in January.
The game marked the 20th season opener under Raptor Head Coach
Tim Oswald, who earned his third straight shutout win in season openers. His team is now 13-5-2 in season openers.
The Raptors applied plenty of pressure all day as they outshot the Cardinals, 13-1. Rutgers-Camden scored only 10:31 into the season when senior captain
Brandon Valeri shot inside the left post on a cross from the right side by sophomore
Nik Grello. Grello added an unassisted goal in the 27th minute when he worked his way around St. John Fisher sophomore keeper Andrew Thomas, who charged out of the net to leave an open goal for Grello to finish.
The Scarlet Raptors added a pair of second-half goals in quick fashion as sophomore
Dylan Pino blasted home a feed from senior
Joseph Lodise in the 55th minute and junior
Miguel Graterol added the final goal in the 57th minute.
Thomas finished with three saves for the Cardinals. Junior
Aleksander Nycz played the opening 76:05 in the Raptor net, while junior
Chris Clune finished the final 13:55, with neither needing to make a save.
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday with a 4 p.m. game at Haverford College.
