CAMDEN, N.J. - Gianna Simon picked the perfect time for her second goal of the season.
The Rutgers University-Camden freshman scored with only three seconds remaining in regulation, lifting the Scarlet Raptors over SUNY New Paltz, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference thriller Saturday afternoon at the Camden Athletic Complex. The victory moved Rutgers-Camden to 5-1-3 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC, while New Paltz fell to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
With the teams seemingly headed toward a scoreless tie, Rutgers-Camden earned a corner kick with nine seconds remaining. Ava Stowell set up Simon for the dramatic game-winning goal at 89:57, giving the Scarlet Raptors their first conference victory of the season.
It was Simon's second goal of the season and her first game-winning tally. Stowell collected her first assist of the year on the play.
The dramatic goal capped a second half in which the Scarlet Raptors generated all four of their corner kicks and placed three shots on goal. Stowell forced New Paltz goalkeeper Jess Centeri to make a save at 47:26, while Simon tested Centeri with another shot on goal at 61:49. Brianne Reeves added a blocked shot at 64:21 before Simon finally broke through in the closing seconds.
While Rutgers-Camden waited until the final moments for its offense to connect, the Scarlet Raptor defense and goalkeeper Giselle Lizardi kept New Paltz off the scoreboard throughout the afternoon.
Lizardi made four saves to earn the shutout. Two of those stops came in a crucial late stretch, when she denied Alyssa Deutsch at 85:43 and Breanna Casey only 12 seconds later to preserve the scoreless tie.
New Paltz held an 11-6 advantage in shots, but the teams each placed four attempts on goal. Rutgers-Camden held a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks, with all four coming during the second half.
Reeves and Simon led the Scarlet Raptors with two shots apiece. Simon put both of her attempts on goal, including the game winner, while Stowell had one shot on goal.
Centeri finished with three saves for New Paltz. Abby Macleod led the Hawks with four shots, while Deutsch added three.
