2007 Men's Soccer News

Rutgers-Camden soccer trio earns honors
on d3kicks.com All-Metropolitan Region teams

CAMDEN (Jan. 3, 2008) – Rutgers University-Camden senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) and senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) were honored Thursday when the national soccer website d3kicks.com unveiled its 2007 Metropolitan Region all-star teams.

Amato was named to the d3kicks.com All-Metropolitan Region Men’s First Team, while Dorsey earned Second Team honors and Yilmaz was recognized on the Third Team.

The d3kicks.com honors are the second major post-season awards for all three Scarlet Raptors, who each earned recognition on the 2007 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Metro Region teams, which were announced on December 20. Amato and Dorsey were both All-Metro First Team members on the NSCAA squads, while Yilmaz was named to the NSCAA All-Metro Third Team.

The trio led Rutgers-Camden to a 13-7-3 mark this season and a 26-11-9 mark during the last two years, including back-to-back ECAC Metro championships.

A dangerous offensive threat as well as a tenacious marker as an outside back, Amato earned numerous honors during his senior season with the Scarlet Raptors. In addition to his two First Team all-region honors, he was named to the All-New Jersey Athletic Conference First Team in 2007 after collecting two goals and seven assists for 11 points. He also helped the Scarlet Raptors post nine shutouts. He earned a berth on the Domino’s Classic All-Tournament team (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) at Roanoke College and received three big honors the week of Oct. 8, capturing both NJAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition and adding a berth on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week.
Amato also captured honors as the Rutgers-Camden Raptor of the Week Sept. 3.

A transfer from Camden County College, Amato played in 46 games over two seasons for the Scarlet Raptors, starting all 46. He collected six goals, nine assists and 21 points in his two-year Raptor career. During his junior year, he earned NJAC Honorable Mention and also was recognized on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week for that season as well, earning the honor on Oct. 10, 2006.

Dorsey had another banner year at Rutgers-Camden in 2007, collecting a team-high eight goals and adding two assists for 18 points. In 61 games over his three-year career, he has scored 22 goals and notched seven assists for 51 points, ninth on the all-time program list. He is tied for sixth in career goals.

Dorsey collected a pair of hat tricks during the season, scoring three goals against both Arcadia University (Oct. 3) and Lebanon Valley College (Oct. 17). With three career hat tricks, he joins Richard Peters (1976-77) as the only Rutgers-Camden players with that many hat tricks in their career.

During the season, Dorsey earned NJAC Offensive Player of the Week and Raptor of the Week honors on Oct. 22 and was a member of the d3kicks.com Team of the Week Oct. 26. For the second straight year, he capped his season with a berth on the All-NJAC Second Team.

Yilmaz was one of the Raptors’ four captains during his senior season. In addition to his all-region honors, he earned All-NJAC Second Team recognition. He had five goals and four assists for 14 points, hiking the totals for his three-year Raptor career to 13 goals, 10 assists and 36 points in 51 games.

Yilmaz also earned a berth on the Domino’s Classic All-Tournament team (Aug. 31-Sept. 1).
d3kicks.com All-Metropolitan Region Teams

Amato, Dorsey head Rutgers-Camden quartet
on NSCAA All-Metro Region soccer teams

CAMDEN (Dec. 20, 2007) – Senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) and junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) led a quartet of Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer players on the 2007 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Metro Region teams, which were announced today.

Amato and Dorsey each received All-Metro First Team honors, while senior back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) was named to the All-Metro Second Team and senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) was honored on the All-Metro Third Team.

The Scarlet Raptors’ four All-Metro Region players tied the program mark for the most all-regional players, set in 2004, They helped Rutgers-Camden post a 13-7-3 mark this season, and a 26-11-9 mark during the last two years, including back-to-back ECAC Metro championships. During that time Rutgers-Camden has had five All-Metro Region players and one All-American.

One of the top backs in the Metro Region and the New Jersey Athletic Conference, Amato earned All-NJAC First Team honors this season after collecting two goals and seven assists for 11 points. He also helped the Scarlet Raptors post nine shutouts. He earned a berth on the Domino’s Classic All-Tournament team (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) at Roanoke College and received three big honors the week of Oct. 8, capturing both NJAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition and adding a berth on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week.

Amato also captured honors as the Rutgers-Camden Raptor of the Week Sept. 3.

A transfer from Camden County College, Amato played in 46 games over two seasons for the Scarlet Raptors, starting all 46. He collected six goals, nine assists and 21 points in his two-year Raptor career. During his junior year, he earned NJAC Honorable Mention and also was recognized on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week for that season as well, earning the honor on Oct. 10, 2006.

Dorsey had another banner year at Rutgers-Camden in 2007, collecting a team-high eight goals and adding two assists for 18 points. In 61 games over his three-year career, he has scored 22 goals and notched seven assists for 51 points, ninth on the all-time program list. He is tied for sixth in career goals.

Dorsey collected a pair of hat tricks during the season, scoring three goals against both Arcadia University (Oct. 3) and Lebanon Valley College (Oct. 17). With three career hat tricks, he joins Richard Peters (1976-77) as the only Rutgers-Camden players with that many hat tricks in their career.

During the season, Dorsey earned NJAC Offensive Player of the Week and Raptor of the Week honors on Oct. 22 and was a member of the d3kicks.com Team of the Week Oct. 26. For the second straight year, he capped his season with a berth on the All-NJAC Second Team.

Fiorani also earned All-NJAC Second Team honors after a season in which he served as one of the Raptors’ four team captains, earned all-tournament team honors at the Cialella Soccer Classic (Sept. 7-8) and was named the Cialella Soccer Classic Defensive MVP. Fiorani also captured both the Raptor of the Week award and honors as the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 24.

Fiorani played in 22 games during his senior season as the Raptors’ center back. He appeared in 80 games over his stellar four-year career, tied for second on the program’s career list.

Yilmaz also was a senior captain who earned All-NJAC Second Team honors this season. He had five goals and four assists for 14 points, hiking the totals for his three-year Raptor career to 13 goals, 10 assists and 36 points in 51 games.

Yilmaz also earned a berth on the Domino’s Classic All-Tournament team (Aug. 31-Sept. 1).
NSCAA 2007 Awards

NJAC tabs Rutgers-Camden’s Gambino
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

CAMDEN (Nov. 12, 2007) – It was quite a weekend for Rutgers University-Camden senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) at the ECAC Division III Metro Men’s Soccer Championship, and Gambino was recognized for his efforts Monday when he was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Gambino scored the game-winning goal in both the semifinals and the championship game as Rutgers-Camden won its second straight ECAC Metro crown in a pair of home games Saturday and Sunday. He also added an assist to collect five points in the two days as he captured ECAC Metro tournament MVP honors.

During a double-overtime ECAC win against Richard Stockton College on Saturday, Gambino’s goal gave the Scarlet Raptors a marathon 3-2 victory. He also assisted on the first goal of the game.

Gambino headed in the winning goal in Sunday’s title game as Rutgers-Camden edged Drew, 2-1.

In addition to earning the ECAC Metro MVP and NJAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, Gambino also was named the school’s Raptor of the Week Monday.

Gambino finished his senior season with 18 points (seven goals, four assists) to tie for second on the team in scoring.
Gambino becomes the fifth Scarlet Raptor to earn NJAC weekly honors this season. Freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) was named NJAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 17. Senior backs James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) and Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) earned NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, respectively. Amato also earned ECAC Div. III Metro Defensive Player of the Week honors and was named to the d3kicks.com Team of the Week.

Junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) was named the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 22 and added honors on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week that same week.

Rutgers-Camden closed its season with a 13-7-3 record, posting 13 wins and the ECAC Metro title for the second consecutive season.

Gambino earns MVP as Rutgers-Camden
wins second straight ECAC Metro crown

CAMDEN (Nov. 11, 2007) – Senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) headed home the game-winning goal midway through the second half on his way to tournament MVP honors, powering Rutgers University-Camden past Drew University, 2-1, for its second straight ECAC Division III Metro Men’s Soccer Championship title here Sunday afternoon.

The second-seeded Scarlet Raptors, who won the 2006 ECAC Metro title on the road at New Jersey City University, defended their title at Rutgers-Camden Community Park as they closed the season with a 13-7-3 record.

Fourth-seeded Drew, which had won seven straight games, including a 1-0 double-overtime semifinal win at top-seeded Ramapo College Saturday, closed its season at 14-8.

With the score tied at 1-1 midway through the second half, Rutgers-Camden freshman midfielder Avidon Respes (Sicklerville, NJ/Rubin Wishkin College Prep) entered the game and immediately paid dividends, collecting his first collegiate point to assist Gambino’s winning goal. From the left side of the goal, Respes sent a cross to the far right post, where Gambino headed in the tie-breaking goal at 67:11. That goal, his seventh of the season, capped a big weekend for Gambino. He also had an assist and the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 3-2 double-overtime semifinal win over Richard Stockton College. He finished his senior season with 18 points (seven goals, four assists) to tie for second on the team in scoring.

Rutgers-Camden came out strong in the first half and held a 10-2 advantage in shots over the opening 45 minutes. The Raptors managed only one goal in that span, however, against the Rangers, who had posted six consecutive shutouts heading into the title game.
Midway through the opening half, Scarlet Raptor senior forward Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and Rangers freshman goalie Jeff Rogers (Eldersburg, MD/Century) converged on a long through ball to the top of the box. The ball squirted free and, while sprawled on the ground, Guishard managed to poke it into the net for his fifth goal of the season. It was the first goal allowed by the Rangers in 662 minutes, dating back to Oct. 20.

Guishard, who was playing in his program-record 84th career game, finished his senior season as the Raptors’ leading scorer with five goals and 11 assists for 21 points. He had 20 goals, 24 assists and 64 points in his four-year career, tying for second in career assists and placing fifth in points.

Drew tied the game at 56:02, following a corner kick by junior forward Alex Degernes (Charlotte, NC/Providence Day). The corner kick was headed into the net by sophomore Marc Chiarello (Robbinsville, NJ/Hun School) for his second goal of the year.

In a foul-filled game, Drew was called for four yellow cards and 16 fouls, while Rutgers-Camden had two yellows and 13 fouls. The Scarlet
Raptors held an 18-8 advantage in shots, while both teams had seven corner kicks.

Rogers made seven saves in the Drew goal. Rutgers-Camden senior Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had four saves in his final game. Grunow ended the season with a 12-7-3 record, a 1.03 goals-against average and six shutouts. For his career he posted 19 wins, third on the program’s all-time list.

The victory marked the second ECAC Metro title in the two-year Raptor coaching career of Tim Oswald. His team has won 13 games each season, going 26-11-9 in his two years at the helm.

ECAC Division III Men’s Metro Soccer Championship (#2 seed)
Play-in Game, Wednesday, Nov. 7
#4 Drew University 5, #5 St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue 0
Semifinals, Saturday, Nov. 10
#4 Drew University 1, #1 Ramapo College 0 (2 OT)
#2 Rutgers University-Camden 3, #3 Richard Stockton College 2 (2 OT)
Championship, Sunday, Nov. 11
#2 Rutgers University-Camden 2, #4 Drew 1

Tournament MVP: Rob Gambino, Rutgers-Camden

Gambino’s goal lifts Rutgers-Camden
back into ECAC Metro title game

CAMDEN (Nov. 10, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team advanced to the ECAC Division III Metro Championship game for the second consecutive season, and the Scarlet Raptors will get the chance to defend their title at home.

Senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) lofted a long chip into the far left corner of the goal with 7:21 remaining in the second overtime as second-seeded Rutgers-Camden outlasted #3 Richard Stockton College, 3-2, in an ECAC Metro semifinal game here Saturday afternoon.

The victory lifts the Raptors (12-7-3) into the title game for the second straight year. They will host #4 Drew University (14-7-0) Sunday at 1 p.m. as they look to defend their 2006 ECAC Metro Championship title. Rutgers-Camden edged New Jersey City University, 1-0, for the crown last season.

Early in the second 10-minute overtime session, Gambino lofted a long drive from 40 yards out on the right side. The ball floated over Stockton junior keeper Brad Ferguson (Galloway, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) into the far left corner for the winning goal at 102:39.

The victory marked the second consecutive season the Raptors edged Stockton by one goal in the ECAC Metro semifinals, and avenged a 1-0 loss to Stockton earlier this season in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game (Oct. 10 in Camden).

Rutgers-Camden scored the lone goal of the first half when freshman midfielder Ryan Dougherty (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) headed home a restart from the right side of the box by Gambino. Dougherty scored his second goal of the season at 13:30.

The Ospreys, who close the season at 11-8-2, scored on their own header, by junior forward Seth McQuay (Montgomery, PA/Montgomery Area), to tie the game only 2:53 into the second half. McQuay’s third goal of the season was assisted by freshman forward Rafael Duarte (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) and the throw-in from junior midfielder Mike Holmes (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North).

Stockton scored again at 57:44 when Duarte’s turnaround shot in the box found the left side of the net for his 17th goal of the year. McQuay had the assist.

Rutgers-Camden tied the game four minutes later at senior Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), who played in both the midfield and the back during the day, slid onto a long cross from senior forward Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) at the left post. Amato’s goal, at 61:42, was his second of the season and gave Guishard his team-leading 11th assist, two shy of the single-season program record.

Both teams had opportunities to win the game in the first overtime. A header by Stockton’s Holmes was denied on a great save by Raptor senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) two minutes into the overtime session. With 3:10 remaining in the first overtime, an apparent game-winning goal by the Raptors was disallowed by an offsides call.

On the day, the Raptors out-shot the Ospreys, 23-15, and held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks. Grunow made five saves for Rutgers-Camden, which hiked its record to 4-1-2 in its last seven games. Ferguson made nine saves for Stockton.

ECAC Division III Men’s Metro Soccer Championship (#2 seed)
Play-in Game, Wednesday, Nov. 7
#4 Drew University 5, #5 St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue 0
Semifinals, Saturday, Nov. 10
#4 Drew University 1, #1 Ramapo College 0 (2 OT)
#2 Rutgers University-Camden 3, #3 Richard Stockton College 2 (2 OT)
Championship, Sunday, Nov. 11
#4 Drew University (14-7-0) at #2 Rutgers University-Camden (12-7-3), 1 p.m.

Rutgers-Camden places quartet
on All-NJAC Men’s Soccer teams

CAMDEN (Nov. 6, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) was named to the All-New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer First Team today, heading a list of four Scarlet Raptors to capture all-conference honors.

Rutgers-Camden players earning All-NJAC Second Team recognition included senior back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional), senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) and junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School).

The 2007 honors mark the second straight year Amato and Dorsey were recognized on the all-conference team. Dorsey also earned Second Team NJAC honors in 2006, while Amato was tabbed All-NJAC Honorable Mention last season.

The all-conference quartet helped Rutgers-Camden post an 11-7-3 record this season, heading into the ECAC Division III Men’s Metro Soccer Championship Saturday. Second-seeded Rutgers-Camden will host third-seeded Richard Stockton College in a 1 p.m. semifinal game as the Scarlet Raptors try to win their second straight ECAC Metro title.

Amato, the Scarlet Raptors’ left back, has had a brilliant senior season, starting all 21 games and helping to anchor a defense that has posted nine shutouts and a 0.96 goals-against average. He also has contributed one goal and seven assists (second on the team) for nine points.

Amato was named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 8 after collecting four assists in three games as the Scarlet Raptors posted a 2-1 record and one shutout. He had three assists – one shy of the program’s single-game record – in a 5-3 win at Arcadia (Oct. 3), and he assisted on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 NJAC victory over Rutgers-Newark (Oct. 6). On Oct. 9, Amato was named the ECAC Division III Metro Defensive Player of the Week and added a major national honor when he was named to the d3kicks.com Team of the Week. The d3kicks.com honor marked the second time in Amato’s career that he earned recognition on the web site’s weekly team. He also was a member of the team on Oct. 10, 2006.

Amato also was named Rutgers-Camden’s first Raptor of the Week for this school year, earning the honor on Sept. 3. That honor came after he earned a berth on the all-tournament team at the season-opening Domino’s Classic, held August 31-Sept. 1 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.

Amato, who transferred to Rutgers-Camden after two seasons at Camden County College, has played in 44 career games for the Scarlet Raptors, starting every contest. He owns five goals and nine assists for 19 points.

Dorsey has played in 16 games this season, scoring eight goals and adding two assists. He enters the ECAC tournament tied for first on the Scarlet Raptors in scoring, and he has been a scoring machine throughout his three-year collegiate career. In 59 career games, Dorsey owns 22 goals and seven assists for 51 points. He is tied for sixth in career goals and ranks ninth in career points at Rutgers-Camden.

This season Dorsey was named the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 22, then added a berth on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week when it was announced Oct. 26. His honors came after he scored four goals and added one assist for nine points in a three-game span. He started the week with an assist on the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at Gwynedd-Mercy College (Oct. 15), added three goals during a 9-2 win over Lebanon Valley College (Oct. 17) and scored the tying goal in a 1-1 deadlock against NJAC rival Ramapo College (Oct. 20).

The hat trick against Lebanon Valley was Dorsey’s second of the season (he also had one at Arcadia Oct. 3) and record-tying third for his career. Only Dorsey and Richard Peters have recorded three hat tricks in program history, with Peters accomplishing his hat tricks during the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

Dorsey’s big performance also earned him Raptor of the Week honors on Oct. 22.

Fiorani and Yilmaz are two of the Scarlet Raptors’ four captains this season. Fiorani, a center back, teamed with fellow All-NJAC honoree Amato to anchor the Raptors’ defense. He played in 20 games this season and enters this weekend’s ECAC Metro tournament with 78 career games at Rutgers-Camden, tied for fifth on the program’s all-time list.

Fiorani was named Rutgers-Camden’s Raptor of the Week and the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 24. His honors came after he helped Rutgers-Camden opened its NJAC season with back-to-back 1-0 victories over Rowan University and Kean University on Sept. 19 and 22, respectively.

Fiorani also was named to the all-tournament team and was recognized as the Defensive MVP at the Cialella Soccer Classic, Sept. 7-8 at Rutgers-Camden.

Yilmaz played one season at Camden County College, where he captured National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-Region XIX honors in 2001. He joined the Rutgers-Camden program in 2005 and has become one of the Scarlet Raptors’ most productive players, collecting 13 goals – including five game-winning goals – and 10 assists for 36 points in 51 career games. This season he is fourth on the team in scoring with five goals and four assists for 14 points.

Yilmaz opened the 2007 campaign with a bang, joining Amato on the all-tournament team at the Domino’s Classic, held at Roanoke College Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

Rutgers-Camden ready to defend
ECAC Metro men’s soccer title

CAMDEN (Nov. 5, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team will get the chance to defend its 2006 ECAC Division III Metro Championship.

The Scarlet Raptors, who won the ECAC Metro title as the No. 2 seed last season, return to the post-season tournament as the second seed this week. The Raptors, who enter the tournament with an 11-7-3 record, host No. 3 seed Richard Stockton College (11-7-2) in a semifinal game Saturday at 1 p.m.

The ECAC Metro Championship begins Wednesday with a play-in game between the Drew University Rangers (12-7) and the St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue Golden Eagles (14-5-3). That game will be held at Drew, slated for 7 p.m. The winner of that game will be seeded fourth and play a semifinal game Saturday at top-seeded Ramapo College (12-4-2).

Saturday’s semifinal winners will play Sunday for the title, with the highest remaining seed serving as the host. If Rutgers-Camden hosts on Sunday, the game time would be 1 p.m.

The Raptors’ ECAC Metro semifinal battle is a repeat of last season’s matchup, when second-seeded Rutgers-Camden edged third-seeded Richard Stockton, 2-1, in Camden on Nov. 11. The Scarlet Raptors went on the road the next day and posted a 1-0 win at top-seeded New Jersey City University to capture the title.

Earlier this season, Stockton defeated Rutgers-Camden, 1-0, in Camden (Oct. 10) on a second-half goal by Sean McCallum. Both teams had 10 shots in the game, and Rutgers-Camden held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Stockton’s win snapped a three-game Raptor winning streak in the series and gave the Ospreys a 20-11-5 lead in the overall series.

Following the loss to Stockton this season, Rutgers-Camden went on a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) which included a 1-1 tie against Ramapo, Oct. 20 in Camden. The Raptors faced the Roadrunners for a second time on Oct. 27 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference playoff game, with Ramapo taking a 2-0 victory to snap Rutgers-Camden’s unbeaten streak.

Junior Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) and senior Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) are tied for the Raptors’ team scoring lead with 18 points apiece. Dorsey has eight goals and two assists, while Guishard has four goals and a team-high 10 assists, tied for the fourth highest single-season assist total in program history. Guishard also has played in 82 career games, the most in program history.

ECAC Division III Men’s Metro Soccer Championship (#2 seed)
Play-in Game, Wednesday, Nov. 7
St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue (14-5-3) vs. Drew University (12-7-0)
Semifinals, Saturday, Nov. 10
#4 St. Joseph’s-Patchogue/Drew at #1 Ramapo College (12-4-2)
#3 Richard Stockton College (11-7-2) at #2 Rutgers University-Camden (11-7-3), 1 p.m.
Championship, Sunday, Nov. 11
at highest remaining seed, TBA

Rutgers-Camden’s Guishard earns
Academic All-District 2 First Team

CAMDEN (Nov. 1, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District 2 Men’s Soccer First Team, it was announced today.

The honor marks the second consecutive year that Guishard has earned a berth on the Academic All-District 2 First Team and qualifies him for inclusion on the Academic All-America ballot.

Guishard, a midfielder/forward, carries a 3.679 grade point average as a Marketing major at Rutgers-Camden.

One of the Scarlet Raptors’ four captains this season after serving as a tri-captain in 2006, Guishard set the program’s career record for games played during the fall season. He has appeared in 82 career games for Rutgers-Camden, which is 11-7-3 overall and awaiting word of a possible ECAC Metro tournament berth.

In 20 games this season, Guishard has collected four goals and a team-leading 10 assists to tie for the club scoring lead with 18 points. Two of his goals have been game-winning tallies, and his assist total is tied for the fourth-highest single-season mark in program history.

Guishard has earned a pair of all-tournament honors this season, coming at the Domino’s Classic (Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Salem, Virginia) and at the Raptors’ own Cialella Soccer Classic (Sept. 7-8).

In his 82 career games, Guishard owns 19 goals and 23 assists for 61 points, the fifth-highest total in program history.

As a junior, Guishard finished third on the team in scoring (6-6-18) while leading the Scarlet Raptors to the ECAC Metro Championship title. He also was named to the national d3kicks.com Team of the Week (Oct. 12, 2006), earned a berth on the 2006 Cialella Soccer Classic all-tourney team and was named the school’s Raptor of the Week on Sept. 11, 2006.

He also was the school’s first Raptor of the Week during his sophomore year, winning the award on Sept. 5, 2005.

An outstanding student-athlete, Guishard has been a Dean’s List student every semester at Rutgers-Camden. He also is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as the co-chair during the 2006-2007 school year.

In addition to his Academic All-District honors last season, Guishard was a member of the 2006 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men’s Soccer Team. He’s on the ballot for that honor again this season.

During his sophomore and junior years, Guishard also earned New Jersey Athletic Conference Academic Honorable Mention.

A standout athlete in soccer, track and basketball at Oakcrest High School, Guishard also was a member of the National Honor Society.

Rodney is the son of Rodney and Helen Guishard of Mays Landing.

Ramapo ousts Rutgers-Camden
from NJAC men’s soccer playoffs

CAMDEN (Oct. 27, 2007) – Ramapo College junior forward Ken Hussey (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) snapped a scoreless deadlock on a second-half direct kick and the fifth-seeded Roadrunners added an insurance goal by sophomore forward Jay Castaldo (Jacobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) as they eliminated No. 4 seed Rutgers-Camden, 2-0, in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament here Saturday night.

The Roadrunners, 12-3-2, advance to the NJAC semifinals Wednesday, where they will play a 3 p.m. game at top-seeded New Jersey City University.

The Scarlet Raptors, who saw their five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) snapped, fall to 11-7-3. They will await word on a possible ECAC tournament berth in November.

The Roadrunners’ victory was Ramapo’s first over Rutgers-Camden since a 6-1 home victory on Oct. 5, 2002. Since that time, Rutgers-Camden had gone 4-0-2, including a 1-1 tie in Camden on Oct. 20.

This time around, however, the Roadrunners took control in the second half following a scoreless opening half in which each team collected five shots. The Roadrunners broke a scoreless deadlock after receiving a direct kick 30 yards out from goal early in the second half. Hussey took the kick and buried a low shot inside the right post at 54:17. It was his eighth goal of the season.

Ramapo added its insurance tally at 84:48 after sophomore midfielder Justin Stone (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) slipped a pass inside the box for Castaldo. His initial shot was deflected by Raptor senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional), but he followed up the shot to score his first goal of the season.

Rutgers-Camden finished the game with a slight 14-12 edge in shots, but Ramapo sophomore goalie Ian Tighe (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) made six saves to post his fifth shutout of the season. Five of those saves came in the second half.

The Roadrunners had the game’s lone corner kick, coming in the first half.

Grunow made two saves for Rutgers-Camden.

Rutgers-Camden’s Dorsey earns
d3kicks.com Team of Week honor

CAMDEN (Oct. 26, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) became the second Scarlet Raptor this season to earn national honors on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week when the web site announced its squad Friday.

This week’s Team of the Week, which was delayed by the updates to the d3kicks site Monday and Tuesday, covers all performances through the games of Sunday, Oct. 21.

Dorsey scored four goals and one assist for nine points in a three-game span last week, and is tied for the team lead with 18 points. He started the week with an assist on the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at Gwynedd-Mercy College Oct. 15. He added three goals during a 9-2 win over Lebanon Valley College (Oct. 17) and scored the tying goal in a 1-1 deadlock against NJAC rival Ramapo College (Oct. 20).

The hat trick against Lebanon Valley was Dorsey’s second of the season and record-tying third for his career. Only Dorsey and Richard Peters have three hat tricks in program history. Peters accomplished his hat tricks during the 1976 and 1977 seasons.
Dorsey’s big performance also earned him Rutgers-Camden’s Raptor of the Week honor on Monday. He added the honors as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week later that day.

Earlier this season, Raptor senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) was selected to the d3kicks.com Team of the Week Oct. 9. It was the second time Amato earned that honor in the two years the national web site has been in existence. He also was named to the team Oct. 10, 2006. The Scarlet Raptors also had Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and Ryan Evans (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) named to the 2006 d3kicks.com weekly teams on Sept. 12 and Oct. 24, respectively.

Dorsey’s conference recognition made the fourth Scarlet Raptor to earn a weekly NJAC honor this season. Senior back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) was the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 24, freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) was the NJAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 17 and Amato earned NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors Oct. 8. Amato added ECAC Division III Metro Defensive Player of the Week honors Oct. 9, in addition to his d3kicks.com recognition.

In addition to five players from the men’s program earning d3kicks.com Team of the Week honors in the last two years, the Lady Raptors also have had a pair of players recognized on that team. Sophomore Jessica Leoni (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) was named to the women’s d3kicks.com Team of the Week on Oct. 9, 2007, and last season the women had Kendyll Clayton (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) named to the very first d3kicks.com Team of the Week on Sept. 5.

The Rutgers-Camden men continue their season Saturday when they host Ramapo College at 6 p.m. in the first round of the NJAC Playoffs. Rutgers-Camden, 11-6-3 overall and 4-2-3 in the conference, is the fourth seed out of six teams. Ramapo (11-3-2/4-3-2) is the fifth seed. The teams played to a 1-1 tie in Camden on Oct. 20.

Rutgers-Camden ties  #8 NJCU
in final regular-season NJAC game

CAMDEN (Oct. 24, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden junior captain A.J. O’Malley (Westmont, NJ/Haddon Township) scored a first-half goal and New Jersey City University senior forward Marcelo Carpio (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) notched the tying goal in the second half as the two teams played to a 1-1 double-overtime tie in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game here Wednesday night at Rutgers-Camden Community Park.

The game was the final regular-season contest for both teams, who each advance to the NJAC playoffs starting Saturday. The Scarlet Raptors, who will be the No. 4 seed, will host No. 5 Ramapo College Saturday at 6 p.m. The Gothic Knights, ranked No. 8 nationally in the NSCAA Division III poll, won the NJAC’s regular-season crown and will be the No. 1 seed in the six-team field. They will draw a first-round bye and host a semifinal game Oct. 31.

The tie leaves the Scarlet Raptors with an 11-6-3 record overall and a 4-2-3 mark in the NJAC. They have tied the last two games, 1-1, against national powerhouse NJCU and Ramapo, stretching their unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2).
NJCU (15-3-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the NJAC), whose #8 ranking is its highest ranking ever, saw its seven-game winning streak snapped with the tie. That streak tied the school record accomplished in 2001, 2004 and 2005.

The tie leaves Rutgers-Camden with a 16-8-6 lead in the all-time series, but the teams are 2-2-2 in the last six games.

The Gothic Knights had tied their program record from 2003 with five consecutive shutouts, but O’Malley snapped that string early in the game. A pair of passes by senior back Milton Suah (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) and senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) sprung O’Malley down the right wing. He broke in on goal and fired a hard shot inside the near post, which glanced off the left hand of Gothic Knight freshman goalie Andre Viola (Clifton, NJ/St. Joseph’s-Montvale) and into the net. The goal, at 7:03, broke Viola’s school-record shutout streak at 458:57. It was the first goal he allowed since a 6-1 win over Maritime College Oct. 3, and was the second tally of the season for O’Malley.

O’Malley’s goal came on the only shot of the first half by the Scarlet Raptors, who were out-shot, 7-1, in the half and 18-9 for the game. Rutgers-Camden held a 9-4 edge in corner kicks.

The Scarlet Raptors nearly made it a 2-0 game nine minutes into the second half, but a shot by junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) slammed off the post.

NJCU tied the game at 69:16 on a scramble at the left post, which produced the 11th goal of the season by senior forward Marcelo Carpio (Clifton, NJ/Clifton). He was assisted by junior forward Cristhian Acuna (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) and junior midfielder Edison Bilbao (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep).

With 13:00 remaining in the second half, the Gothic Knights’ Gonzalo Dapia (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) hit a shot off the post following a corner kick. The Scarlet Raptors, meanwhile, had a chance to win the game with four minutes remaining in the second overtime. Senior Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest), playing in his 81st game to set a program career record, was robbed of a game-winning goal on a fine save by Viola. Guishard’s 81st game broke the mark of 80 shared by Brandon Bond and Kevin Ridgway from the 2002-05 teams.

Viola finished with nine saves for the Gothic Knights, while senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) notched nine saves in a fine performance for the Scarlet Raptors.

NJAC tabs Raptors’ Dorsey
as Offensive Player of the Week

CAMDEN (Oct. 22, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week today after collecting four goals and one assist in three games last week.

Dorsey, who is now tied for the team lead with 18 points, started the week with an assist on the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at Gwynedd-Mercy College Oct. 15. He added three goals during a 9-2 win over Lebanon Valley College (Oct. 17) and scored the tying goal in a 1-1 deadlock against NJAC rival Ramapo College (Oct. 20).

The hat trick against Lebanon Valley was Dorsey’s second of the season and record-tying third for his career. Only Dorsey and Richard Peters have three hat tricks in program history. Peters accomplished his hat tricks during the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

Dorsey’s big performance also earned him Rutgers-Camden’s Raptor of the Week honor on Monday.

Dorsey owns eight goals and two assists for 18 points in 14 games this season. For his career, Dorsey now owns 22 goals, seven assists and 51 points in 57 games. He is tied for sixth on the program’s all-time list for goals and has risen to ninth in career points.

Dorsey is the fourth Scarlet Raptor to earn a weekly NJAC honor this season. Senior back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) was the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 24, freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) was the NJAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 17 and senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) earned NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors Oct. 8.

Amato added a pair of honors Oct. 9 when he was named the ECAC Division III Metro Defensive Player of the Week and then captured national attention by being named to the d3kicks.com Team of the Week.

Rutgers-Camden owns an 11-6-2 record overall and is 4-2-2 in the NJAC, tied for fourth place entering its final game Wednesday. The Raptors host regular-season NJAC champion New Jersey City University at 6 p.m.

Dorsey’s late-game goal helps
Rutgers-Camden tie Ramapo

CAMDEN (Oct. 20, 2007) – Ramapo College senior midfielder Arturo Moreira (Lodi, NJLodi) and Rutgers University-Camden junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) traded second-half goals as the two teams played to a 1-1 double-overtime tie in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game here Saturday night at Rutgers-Camden Community Park.

The tie leaves both teams tied in the NJAC standings with 4-2-2 conference records with one game remaining. Both teams wrap up the NJAC regular season with home games Wednesday. Ramapo faces Montclair State University at 4 p.m. and Rutgers-Camden battles New Jersey City University at 6 p.m.

The game also served as a Senior Night celebration for the Scarlet Raptors’ seven seniors, back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional), midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), goalkeeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional), midfielder/forward Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest), back Milton Suah (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) and midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran). It was the 80th career game for Guishard, tying the program career record of 80 set by both Brandon Bond and Kevin Ridgway from 2002-05.

After surviving a first half in which they were out-shot, 8-2, the Roadrunners (11-2-2 overall) broke a scoreless tie early in the second half. Freshman back Jon Chiles (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) sent a ball into the top right side of the box for sophomore forward Jason Castaldo (Jacobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington), who crossed it to the left side. Moreira drilled a shot inside the left post at 49:08 for his fifth goal of the season.

Dorsey tied the game at 71:02, assisted by Guishard and freshman midfielder Ronald Villatoro (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch). From the left side, Guishard sent a ball to the top right side of the box, when Villatoro pushed it toward goal. Dorsey slid onto the ball to poke it into the left side of the net for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. It was his fourth goal in the last two games.

Late in the second overtime, Ramapo sophomore keeper Ian Tighe (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) tipped a header by the Raptors’ Chase Komer (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) over the crossbar following a corner kick with one minute remaining.

Tighe made 10 saves as the Raptors out-shot the Roadrunners, 19-14, and held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks. Grunow had six saved for Rutgers-Camden.

Dorsey’s third career hat trick
lifts Raptors past Lebanon Valley

CAMDEN (Oct. 17, 2007) – Junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) became only the second player in Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer history to notch three hat tricks in his career as he scored three goals to power the Scarlet Raptors to a 9-2 non-conference win over Lebanon Valley College at Rutgers-Camden Community Park Wednesday night.

The Raptors, who raised their record to 11-6-1, held a 2-0 halftime lead on a pair of goals by Dorsey, who completed his hat trick at 64:14. It was Dorsey’s second hat trick of the season, with the first coming Oct. 3 at Arcadia University, and the third of his career. Dorsey, who joins Richard Peters (1976-77) with three career hat tricks at Rutgers-Camden, notched his first one last season against Kean University (Sept. 23, 2006).

The Raptors, who are 5-1 in their last six games, broke the game open with seven second-half tallies, as Dorsey, senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), freshman back Ryan Dougherty (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick), senior midfielder/forward Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest), freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City), junior midfielder Esteban Mozo (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) and junior forward Tim Ennis (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) all found the net. It was the first goal of the season for Amato, Dougherty, Ennis and Mozo, and the first of their Raptor career for Mozo and Dougherty.

Dorsey notched his first goal at 21:29, scoring at the far post off a long throw-in by sophomore back Chase Komer (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown). He added another goal at 24:09, assisted by Guishard and senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran).

In the second half, the two teams combined for nine goals, including tallies only 15 seconds apart by Dorsey (64:14) and Lebanon Valley senior midfielder Zach Barkus (Millersburg, PA/Millersburg) to set a Raptor program record for the fastest pair of goals by both teams. The previous mark was 25 seconds by the Raptors’ Brandon Bond and St. Joseph-Patchogue’s Tim Trava on Sept. 14, 2003.

The goal by Barkus was the second tally for the Flying Dutchmen, who fall to 6-9-1. Their first goal came at 58:53 by freshman midfielder A.J. Hull (York, PA/West York), assisted by Barkus.

Guishard added two assists to his goal to finish with four points on the night, while Yilmaz and Komer each collected two assists. Dougherty, Ennis and Kilicoglu each had a goal and an assist, while junior midfielder James Ono (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) and senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) each added an assist.

Three Raptor goalies combined for the victory, with senior Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) earning the victory with two saves in the first half. Freshman Greg Faust (Lumberton, NJ/St. Joseph, PA) and sophomore Pat Faulls (Laurel Springs, NJ/Highland Regional) split the second half, with each making a save.

For Lebanon Valley College, junior Tim Mehl (Fredrick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson) had four saves in 63:27 of playing time. Junior Andrew Raudensky (Cleona, PA/Annville-Cleona) played the final 26:33, making one save.

Rutgers-Camden returns home Saturday night with a 6 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference game against Ramapo College.  Lebanon Valley College plays a 7 p.m. game at Widener University on Oct. 24.

Goals by Gambino, Yilmaz
lift Raptors past Gwynedd-Mercy

GWYNEDD VALLEY, Penn. (Oct. 15, 2007) – Senior midfielders Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) each scored a goal to spark the Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Gwynedd-Mercy College in a non-conference game here Monday afternoon.

The Scarlet Raptors, who have won two straight games and four of their last five, improve to 10-6-1 as they hit double digits in victories for the fifth straight season. The Griffins fall to 3-8-4.

Freshman goalie Greg Faust (Lumberton, NJ/St. Joseph, PA) collected a shutout in his first collegiate start, making four saves to earn the first decision of his Raptor career.

Gambino scored the only goal the Raptors needed at 24:31, assisted by junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) and senior forward Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest). It was the fifth goal of the season for Gambino, the second assist for Dorsey and the team-leading seventh assist for Guishard.

Yilmaz gave the Raptors an insurance tally with his fifth goal of the season at 53:24. It was assisted by senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), who tied Guishard for the team lead with seven assists.

Rutgers-Camden out-shot Gwynedd-Mercy, 19-8, and held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.

The Griffins’ goalie duo of Sean Meehan (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) and Joe Schneider (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) combined for nine saves and were aided by a backsave while splitting duties in the net. Meehan had six saves while playing the first half.

Rutgers-Camden returns home Wednesday night with a 6 p.m. non-conference game against Lebanon Valley College.

Yilmaz, Gidjunis notch goals
as Rutgers-Camden tops Paterson

WAYNE (Oct. 13, 2007) – Senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) and sophomore midfielder Mark Gidjunis (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) each scored a first-half goal to spark the Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team over William Paterson University, 2-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday night.

The victory lifts the Scarlet Raptors to 9-6-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the NJAC. The Pioneers fall to 7-8 and 1-6.

Yilmaz opened the scoring at 21:09 after taking a pass from senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling). Yilmaz dribbled past the Pioneers’ defense and hit a low shot into the right corner of the net. It was the fourth goal of the season for Yilmaz and his first game-winning goal.

Gidjunis notched his first goal of the season, giving the Raptors an insurance tally, at 37:56. He scored off a cross from sophomore midfielder Dom Crocetti (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross), placing a low shot into the right side of the net.

Senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) collected three saves for the Raptors to earn his sixth shutout of the season. For the Pioneers, senior goalkeeper David Casper (Franklin, NJ/Timothy Christian) also collected three saves.

Rutgers-Camden out-shot William Paterson, 8-4, but the Pioneers held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Monday with a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Gwynedd-Mercy College.

McCallum’s goal lifts Stockton
to NJAC win at Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN (Oct. 10, 2007) – Sophomore forward Sean McCallum (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) scored the lone goal of the game 9:42 into the second half to lift the Richard Stockton College men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Rutgers University-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest Wednesday evening at Rutgers-Camden Community Park.

McCallum’s goal, his sixth of the season and second game-winning tally, lifted the Ospreys to 9-4-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the NJAC. Stockton, which has outscored opponents by a 27-5 margin in the second half this season, has won four of its last five games.

The loss drops Rutgers-Camden to 8-6-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the conference.

Stockton’s victory broke a three-game Raptor winning streak in the series and increased the Ospreys’ all-time lead to 20-11-5 over Rutgers-Camden.

In a tight defensive game with few scoring opportunities, McCallum ran onto a long through ball by junior forward Jason Bonnel (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens). The ball, McCallum and a pair of Raptors converged at the top of the box, including senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional). The ball and McCallum worked past the pileup, allowing the Stockton forward to score into the open net at 54:42.

Both teams collected 10 shots, with each getting five per half. Both Grunow and Stockton junior keeper Brad Ferguson (Galloway, NJ/St. Joseph) each notched four saves, while Rutgers-Camden had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. The Scarlet Raptors also had one more foul, 14-13, and one more yellow card, 2-1, in the NJAC contest.

Both teams return to action with NJAC games Saturday. Stockton hosts Ramapo College at 1 p.m., while Rutgers-Camden plays a 5 p.m. game at William Paterson University.

Raptors’ Amato adds
two more weekly honors

CAMDEN (Oct. 9, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) was  named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week Monday, but it turns out that honor was only the tip of the iceberg for the Scarlet Raptors’ left back.

Amato added a pair of honors late Tuesday when he was named the ECAC Division III Metro Defensive Player of the Week and then captured national attention by being named to the d3kicks.com Team of the Week. The d3kicks.com honor marks the second time in Amato’s career he has been named to that team. He also earned the honor on Oct. 10, 2006 during the debut season for the national web site
.
Amato was honored after collecting four assists in three games last week as the Scarlet Raptors posted a 2-1 record and one shutout. Amato had three assists – one shy of the program’s single-game record – in a 5-3 win at Arcadia Wednesday. He assisted on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 NJAC victory over Rutgers-Newark Saturday.

The honors are the latest award in a fine senior season for Amato, who also was named to the All-Tournament team at the season-opening Domino’s Classic in Salem, Virginia (Aug. 31-Sept. 1). He was named Rutgers-Camden’s first Raptor of the Week this fall, winning the honor on Sept. 3.

Amato is second on the team with five assists and also has helped the Scarlet Raptors post seven shutouts this season. Last year he earned All-NJAC Honorable Mention in his first season with the Raptors after transferring from Camden County College.

In his 37 career games at Rutgers-Camden, Amato owns four goals and seven assists for 15 points.

Amato wasn’t the only Scarlet Raptor to be named to the d3kicks.com Team of the Week this week. The Raptors pulls off a rare double when sophomore Jessica Leoni (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) was named to the women’s d3kicks.com Team of the Week as well.

Since breaking onto the scene as a national web site last year, d3kicks.com has honored six Scarlet Raptors on its Teams of the Week. Last season the women had Kendyll Clayton (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) named to the very first d3kicks.com Team of the Week on Sept. 5. In addition to Amato’s 2006 honor, the Raptor men also had Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and Ryan Evans (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) named to the team on Sept. 12 and Oct. 24, respectively.

Rutgers-Camden, 8-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the NJAC, hosts Richard Stockton College in a conference game tonight at 6 p.m.

Raptors’ Amato captures
NJAC Defensive Player of Week

CAMDEN (Oct. 8, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) has been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Monday.

Amato was honored after collecting four assists in three games last week as the Scarlet Raptors posted a 2-1 record and one shutout. The team’s left back had three assists – one shy of the program’s single-game record – in a 5-3 win at Arcadia Wednesday. He assisted on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 NJAC victory over Rutgers-Newark Saturday.

The NJAC honor is the latest award in a fine senior season for Amato, who also was named to the All-Tournament team at the season-opening Domino’s Classic in Salem, Virginia (Aug. 31-Sept. 1). He was named Rutgers-Camden’s first Raptor of the Week this fall, winning the honor on Sept. 3.

Amato is second on the team with five assists and also has helped the Scarlet Raptors post seven shutouts this season. Last year he earned All-NJAC Honorable Mention in his first season with the Raptors after transferring from Camden County College.

In his 37 career games at Rutgers-Camden, Amato owns four goals and seven assists for 15 points.

Amato is the third Scarlet Raptor to earn weekly NJAC honors this season. Senior back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) was the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 24 and freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) was the NJAC Rookie of the Week on Sept. 17.

Rutgers-Camden, 8-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the NJAC, hosts Richard Stockton College in a conference game Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Guishard’s goal leads Rutgers-Camden
to NJAC win over Rutgers-Newark

CAMDEN (Oct. 6, 2007) – Senior captain Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) scored off the rebound of a bullet off the crossbar by senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) late in the first half and that goal proved to be enough to lift the Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team over sister school Rutgers-Newark, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon at Rutgers-Camden Community Park.

The win lifts the Scarlet Raptors to 8-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the NJAC, while the Scarlet Raiders fall to 7-5-1 and 0-4.
After Amato sent his shot off the crossbar, Guishard slid the rebound into the net from near the goal line, scoring his third goal of the season. It was his second game-winning goal, tying for the team lead.

The goal was the only one Rutgers-Newark allowed this week following shutout wins over FDU-Florham and King’s College. It also gave Rutgers-Camden its fifth straight win in the series, increasing the Raptors’ all-time edge to 21-10-1.

The Scarlet Raptors had the edge in play in the first half, holding an 8-3 advantage in shots and a 4-0 margin in corner kicks. Rutgers-Newark freshman goalie Jonathan Francis (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton) made four of his five saves in the opening half, including a pair of spectacular ones.

Rutgers-Newark applied the pressure in the second half, when the Scarlet Raiders held a 5-3 edge in shots and a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks. The Raiders nearly tied the game with 13:00 remaining when freshman forward Jason Laing (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) drilled a direct kick off the upper left corner of the net.

Rutgers-Camden senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had four saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season. He made two saves in each half.

Rutgers-Newark hosts the College of Staten Island Monday at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game. Rutgers-Camden returns to action Wednesday with a 6 p.m. home NJAC game against Richard Stockton College.

Dorsey’s hat trick, Amato’s assists
power Rutgers-Camden over Arcadia

GLENSIDE, Penn. (Oct. 3, 2007) – Junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) collected his second career hat trick and senior back Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) added three assists to power the Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team to a 5-3 comeback victory over Arcadia University here Wednesday afternoon.

The victory was the Scarlet Raptors’ first over Arcadia University since the school changed its name from Beaver College. Rutgers-Camden is now 1-3-3 all time against Arcadia in the last seven years, after going 2-1 in three games against then-Beaver College from 1994-96. Wednesday’s game also marked the only road game against the Knights since losing a 4-3 decision at Beaver College on Oct. 19, 1995.

The victory lifts the Scarlet Raptors to 7-5-1, snapping a two-game losing streak. Perennial power Arcadia falls to 0-9-2 one season after reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Rutgers-Camden, which rallied from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1, saw Dorsey notch the Raptors’ second hat trick of the year. Freshman Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) had a hat trick and added an assist in a win over Centenary College Sept. 16. It was the second career hat trick for Dorsey, who collected his first one against Kean University (Sept. 23, 2006).

Dorsey’s first goal, assisted by Amato, came at 9:13, wedged between Arcadia goals at 2:39 by Andrew Plunkett (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) and at 30:54 by Matt Nowicki (Forest Hill, MD/Fallston).

Trailing, 2-1, at halftime, the Raptors tied the game at 62:18 when senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) scored off a corner kick by senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee). It didn’t take long for the Raptors to break that tie, courtesy of Dorsey. Dorsey scored at 67:56, assisted by senior midfielder Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and Amato. It was Guishard’s team-leading sixth assist.

Dorsey completed his hat trick only 2:05 later, assisted by freshman midfielder Shane McGrory (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) and Amato. The hat trick gave Dorsey four goals on the season, the second-highest total on the team. The three assists increased Amato’s total to four, second on the team to Guishard.

The two teams traded a pair of late goals, with George Andriko (Bethlehem, PA/Moravian Academy) scoring at 78:52 for the Knights to cut the gap to 4-3, and Gambino adding an insurance goal for the Raptors at 81:59.

Rutgers-Camden held a 26-9 advantage in shots and a 12-1 margin in corner kicks. In the second half, the Raptors’ edge was 18-3 in shots and 9-1 in corner kicks.

Rutgers-Camden senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had three saves, while Arcadia sophomore keeper Jeff Kratohwill (Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen) had 11 saves.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they play the second half of a Homecoming Day soccer doubleheader at 3 p.m. in a New Jersey Athletic Conference battle against Rutgers-Newark.

Philadelphia Biblical University
blanks Rutgers-Camden men, 2-0

LANGHORNE, Penn. ( Oct. 1, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team held all the statistical advantages except in the place where it matters the most.

Philadelphia Biblical University scored a pair of first-half goals and hung on to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 2-0, in a non-conference game here Monday afternoon. The Crimson Eagles won despite Rutgers-Camden’s 25-10 advantage in shots and 7-0 edge in corner kicks.

The Crimson Eagles, who stretched their winning streak to five games, improved to 8-3-1 on the season. Rutgers-Camden, which dropped its second straight 2-0 game after a five-game unbeaten streak, is 6-5-1.

PBU scored the only goal it needed at 7:05 when senior forward Derek Mosely (Newport News, VA/Denbigh Baptist Christian School) scored off a feed from junior back Jonathan Waszaj (East Brunswick, NJ/Timothy Christian School).

The Crimson Eagles added another goal at 41:20 on an unassisted tally by sophomore midfielder Bryan Ebersole (Zurich, Germany/Wallenpaupack).

PBU freshman goalie Andy Ecker (Abbotstown, PA/New Oxford) made nine saves as the Scarlet Raptors held a 13-6 advantage in shots in the opening half and a 12-4 margin in the final 45 minutes. Ecker also was aided by three backsaves. Rutgers-Camden senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had three saves.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday with another non-conference road game. They play at Arcadia University at 4 p.m.

13th-ranked Montclair State
tops Rutgers-Camden men, 2-0

CAMDEN (Sept. 29, 2007) – The Montclair State University men’s soccer team, the defending New Jersey Athletic Conference champion, scored a pair of first-half goals, each assisted by sophomore midfielder Joseph Cullen (Clementon, NJ/Highland) and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 2-0, in a conference game here Saturday night.

The Red Hawks, currently ranked No. 13 in the d3kicks.com Division III national poll, improve to 9-1-1 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC with their sixth win in the last seven games. Rutgers-Camden, which received seven votes toward the d3kicks.com national poll last week, falls to 6-4-1 and 2-1-1, snapping a five-game unbeaten streak in which the Scarlet Raptors went 4-0-1.

The speedy Red Hawks didn’t take long to strike. Only five minutes into the game, Cullen and leading scorer Tyler Masterson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) hooked up on a series of give-and-go passes along the left side, with Cullen finally feeding Masterson, who blasted his eighth goal of the season high into the right side of the net.

Later in the half, Cullen sent a beautiful cross into the box from the left side that found sophomore John Esposito (Hillside, NJ/Hillside). Esposito finished off his third goal of the season with a shot into the right side of the net at 22:37.

Each team held a 7-4 advantage in shots during one half, with MSU getting the most opportunities in the opening half and Rutgers-Camden holding the edge in the final 45 minutes as both teams collected 11 shots. Rutgers-Camden held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks, including a 5-1 margin in the second half.

Montclair State junior goalie Nick Mele (Delran, NJ/Delran) notched his seventh shutout of the season, making five saves. Rutgers-Camden senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had two saves.

Both teams return to action with non-conference games next week. Rutgers-Camden travels to Philadelphia Biblical University Monday for a 4 p.m. contest. Montclair State hosts Mitchell College Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Villatoro’s goal helps
Rutgers-Camden tie #25 TCNJ

EWING (Sept. 26, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden freshman midfielder Ronald Villatoro (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) scored the tying goal midway through the second half as the Scarlet Raptors played to a 1-1 double-overtime tie against The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game here Wednesday afternoon.

TCNJ, which entered the game ranked No. 25 nationally in the d3kicks.com Top 25 poll, stands at 6-1-3 overall and 2-0-2 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden, which received seven votes toward the d3kicks.com national poll this week, is 6-3-1 and 2-0-1, stretching its unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1).

The Raptors, who entered the game with four straight shutouts, saw that streak snapped at 33:18 when the Lions’ senior midfielder Joe McGinley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) scored his first goal of the season. He converted a pass from senior Nima Rahimi (Wharton, NJ/Morris Hills) to collect the first goal off Raptor senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) since Sept. 8. It snapped a streak of 335:40 consecutive scoreless minutes by Grunow.

Midway through the second half, Villatoro entered the game off the bench and quickly used a feed from senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) to notch the tying goal. His third goal of the year, coming at 69:59, came off a breakaway from the left side that he shot to the right lower corner of the goal.

In overtime period, both teams had their opportunities, but both goalies came up big when needed. In net for the Lions, senior Steve Scuttellaro (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) made eight saves, while Grunow had nine saves for the Raptors.

The Scarlet Raptors get right back into the NJAC battles Saturday when they face defending conference champion Montclair State University, currently ranked No. 13 in the d3kicks.com national poll, at 7 p.m.

Raptors in the polls

CAMDEN (Sept. 25, 2007) – The Rutgers-Camden men's soccer team is ranked No. 4 in this week's NSCAA/adidas Metro Region rankings, No. 7 in the d3kicks.com Metropolitan Region rankings and received seven votes toward the d3kicks.com national Top 25 poll.

Raptors’ Fiorani captures
NJAC Defensive Player of Week

CAMDEN (Sept. 24, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior back James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) has been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week it was announced Monday.

Fiorani, who also was named as the school’s Raptor of the Week on Monday, has been a major cog in the defensive unit which has posted four consecutive shutouts and six on the season. Last week, Rutgers-Camden opened its NJAC season with back-to-back 1-0 victories over Rowan University and Kean University.

Fiorani has enjoyed a stellar season as one of the Scarlet Raptors’ center backs and one of the team's four captains. He was named to the all-tournament team and recognized as the Defensive MVP at the Cialella Soccer Classic Sept. 7-8 at Rutgers-Camden.

In addition to their four straight shutouts, the Raptors have posted shutouts in five of their last six games. They own a 0.65 goals-against average on the season.

A Criminal Justice major who plans to become a state police trooper, James is the son of James and Laurie Fiorani of Bridgeton.

Rutgers-Camden, 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC, returns to conference action Wednesday with a 3 p.m. game at The College of New Jersey.

Dorsey’s goal lifts
Rutgers-Camden over Kean

UNION (Sept. 22, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) led his team in scoring last season with 10 goals and 22 points, and the junior sharp-shooter picked a great time for his first goal of the 2007 campaign.

Dorsey scored the lone tally of the game only 2:57 into the second half, assisted by senior Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest), to lead the Scarlet Rapators over Kean University, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday night. It was the team-leading fifth assist for Guishard, who was tied for 38th among all Division III players in assists per game (0.67) in the last NCAA statistical report through games of September 16.

The victory was the Raptors’ fourth straight, all by shutout scores. The Raptors have won five of their last six games, all on shutouts, to raise their record to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC. Raptor senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) collected his fourth shutout of the year and raised his record to 6-3.

Kean falls to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the NJAC. The Cougars out-shot Rutgers-Camden, 12-8, but the Scarlet Raptors held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Kean senior goalie Kyle Crego (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) collected four saves.

Rutgers-Camden returns to the rugged NJAC battles this week when it faces the conference’s last two champions. The Raptors travel to The College of New Jersey Wednesday at 3 p.m. for a replay of the 2005 NJAC championship game, then host Montclair State University Saturday at 7 p.m. The Red Hawks won the conference title last season.

Villatoro’s goal lifts
Rutgers-Camden past Rowan

CAMDEN (Sept. 19, 2007) – Freshman midfielder Ronald Villatoro (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) scored off the rebound of his own saved shot for the only tally of the game to lead the Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team over Rowan University, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.

The victory was the third straight for the Scarlet Raptors, who improve to 5-3 and open their NJAC schedule with a win. Rowan falls to 4-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

In a game which saw plenty of action on the field but few great scoring chances, Villatoro broke the deadlock with 16:40 remaining in regulation. His initial shot was blocked on a backsave, but caromed back to him inside the box, and he finished the shot for his second collegiate goal. It was his first game-winning tally.

Rutgers-Camden held a 10-9 edge in shots, while each team had four corner kicks.

Rowan senior goalie Kevin Nuss (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) made three saves and was aided by a pair of backsaves. Rutgers-Camden senior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had four saves to raise his record to 5-3. It was the Raptors’ third straight shutout and the fifth of the year. Grunow owns three shutouts.

Both teams return to NJAC action Saturday with 7 p.m. games. Rutgers-Camden travels to Kean University, while Rowan hosts New Jersey City University.

Rutgers-Camden’s Kilicoglu
earns NJAC Rookie of the Week

CAMDEN (Sept. 17, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) has been honored by the New Jersey Athletic Conference for his incredible weekend.

Kilicoglu, who on Sunday was named the MVP of the 2007 Scarlet Raiders Soccer Classic at Rutgers-Newark, was honored Monday as the NJAC Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Week. The award comes after Kilicoglu collected an amazing 12 points while leading the Scarlet Raptors to the tournament title.

In Saturday’s opening-day win, Kilicoglu collected two goals and one assist in a 3-0 victory over SUNY-Farmingdale. On Sunday, he scored three goals and added one assist as Rutgers-Camden blasted Centenary College, 8-0, in the title game of the tournament.

Kilicoglu, who entered the weekend with one collegiate goal, now leads the Raptors in scoring with six goals and two assists for 14 points. His hat trick Sunday was the first at Rutgers-Camden since Evan Graves had one against John Jay College on Oct. 9, 2006.

Kilicoglu came to Rutgers-Camden after an outstanding senior season at Burlington City High School, where he scored 22 goals and was named to numerous all-star teams. He was honored on the Burlington County League Freedom Division First Team and the Newark Star-Ledger’s All-South Jersey Third Team. He captured a pair of honors from the Courier-Post newspaper, earning All-Group 1 First Team and All-South Jersey Second Team recognition.

Rutgers-Camden (4-3) returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Rowan University at 7 p.m. in its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener.

Kilicoglu powers Rutgers-Camden
to Scarlet Raider Classic title

NEWARK (Sept. 16, 2007) – The 2007 Scarlet Raider Soccer Classic turned into a highlight reel for Rutgers University-Camden freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City).

Kilicoglu cemented his status as the tournament MVP as he scored three goals and added one assist as Rutgers-Camden blasted Centenary College, 8-0, in the title game of the tournament, played Sunday at Rutgers-Newark.

That performance came on the heels of Saturday’s game, when Kilicoglu collected two goals and one assist in a 3-0 win over SUNY-Farmingdale.

The two victories raised Rutgers-Camden’s record to 4-3, marking the first time since opening day the Scarlet Raptors have been over .500 this season.

Kilicoglu, who entered the weekend with one collegiate goal, now leads the Raptors in scoring with six goals and two assists for 14 points. His hat trick Sunday was the first at Rutgers-Camden since Evan Graves had one against John Jay College on Oct. 9, 2006. That John Jay game, which the Raptors also won by an 8-0 score, marked the last time Rutgers-Camden scored eight goals in one game.

Rutgers-Camden didn’t waste any time getting started against Centenary (3-3). The Raptors’ junior forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) sent a cross to the right side of the box at 6:34, which was converted on a header by senior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee). That goal was the beginning of a four-goal first-half explosion for the Raptors, who held a commanding 35-6 advantage in shots and 4-1 edge in corner kicks on the day.

Rutgers-Camden senior captain Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) scored on his own header at 10:08 off a long throw-in from sophomore back Chase Komer (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown). At 27:16, Kilicoglu notched his first goal on a hard shot inside the left post that was too hot for Centenary keeper Damien DiBuono (Succasunna, NJ/Morris Catholic) to handle. That goal was assisted by junior midfielder James Ono (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional).

The Raptors tacked on their final first-half goal 2:06 before the break when a pair of freshmen combined on the tally. Shane McGrory (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) scored his first collegiate goal, assisted by the first collegiate point from Stan Reahm (Deptford, NJ/Deptford).
In the second half, Kilicoglu collected his second goal of the day, assisted by Guishard, at 64:23, and Gambino added another tally on a Kilicoglu assist at 71:52. Kilicoglu completed his hat trick on a penalty kick at 80:17.

The Raptors closed out the scoring at 81:26 when two more freshmen collected their first collegiate points. Ronald Villatoro (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) scored on a breakaway, assisted by Colin Plumley (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro).

The Raptors split goalie duties between senior Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional), freshman Greg Faust (Lumberton, NJ/St. Joseph, PA) and sophomore Pat Faulls (Laurel Springs, NJ/Highland Regional), with each keeper making one save. Grunow played 33:00, Faust 27:28 and Faulls, a member of the Scarlet Raptors’ baseball team, made his soccer debut with 29:32 scoreless minutes.

Rutgers-Camden captains Onur Yilmaz (9), A.J. O'Malley
(20), James Fiorani (10) and Rodney Guishard (15) pose
with Head Coach Tim Oswald (right) and Rutgers-Newark
Athletic Director Mark Griffin (left) after winning the
2007 Scarlet Raider Soccer Classic on Sept. 16.

Kilicoglu notches two goals, one assist
as Raptors top SUNY-Farmingdale

NEWARK (Sept. 15, 2007) – Freshman forward Turgut Kilicoglu (Giresun, Turkey/Burlington City) collected two goals and one assist to power the Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team over SUNY-Farmingdale, 3-0, in the opening game of the 2007 Scarlet Raider Soccer Classic at Rutgers-Newark Saturday.

In Saturday’s other game, Centenary College edged host Rutgers-Newark, 3-2.

On Sunday, Rutgers-Camden and Centenary will play at 4 p.m., followed by Rutgers-Newark and SUNY-Farmingdale at 7 p.m.
In their opening-day win, the Raptors saw Kilicoglu explode for his first collegiate multi-point game. The former All-South Jersey Second Team player out of Burlington City High School notched the eventual game-winning goal at 41:00 when he scored on a breakaway from the left side off a through pass by junior midfielder Brad Gares (Burlington Township, NJ/Burlington Township).

At 54:22, Kilicoglu crossed a pass from the right side to the far post, which was converted by junior back A.J.  O’Malley (Westmont, NJ/Haddon Township) for his first collegiate goal.

Kilicoglu finished his fine day with a goal at 81:29 on a breakaway, assisted by sophomore midfielder Dom Crocetti (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross). Kilicoglu now leads the Raptors in scoring with three goals and one assist for seven points.

Rutgers-Camden (3-3) outshot SUNY-Farmingdale (0-5), 14-9, and held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.

The Raptors split time in goal, with senior Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) earning the win and making three saves in 74:30 of playing time. Freshman Greg Faust (Lumberton, NJ/St. Joseph Prep, PA) made one save in 15:30 of action. For the Rams, keeper Patric Gubbins (East Patchogue, NY/Bellport) made five saves.

Eastern tops Rutgers-Camden to win
Cialella Soccer Classic championship

CAMDEN (Sept. 8, 2007) – Eastern University freshman Dann DeLorenzo (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) scored the game-winning goal on a second-half volley to lead the Eagles over host Rutgers University-Camden, 3-2, in the championship game of the Seventh Annual Cialella Soccer Classic here Saturday night.

In the consolation game, last year’s champion, Alvernia College, blanked Villa Julie College, 3-0.

DeLorenzo earned the tournament’s Offensive MVP honor, and joined teammates Taylor VanBrackle (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) and Cliff Gehret (Telford, PA/Souderton) on the all-tournament team.

Rutgers-Camden’s James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) was named the Defensive MVP and was joined on the all-tourney team by the Raptors’ Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and James Ono (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional).

Alvernia’s all-tournament team members included Michael Colozzi (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin), Richard Kessler (Reading, PA/Reading) and David Schaeffer (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown), while Villa Julie’s honorees included Ryan Payne (Millersville, MD/Old Mill), Justin Bean (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) and Eric Lowman (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville).

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday, Sept. 15. They play SUNY-Farmingdale at 4 p.m. in the opening game of the 2007 Scarlet Raiders Tournament at Rutgers-Newark.

Eastern 3, Rutgers-Camden 2

The Eagles won the championship game in their first appearance at the Cialella Soccer Classic, but it didn’t come as easily as it appeared after Eastern (2-1) built a 2-0 halftime lead. Rutgers-Camden (2-3) scored a pair of second-half goals in a 1:34 to tie the game, but DeLorenzo provided the game-winning goal on a brilliant left-footed volley from 20 yards out on the left side of the net. His shot, a bullet into the far corner, came at 74:38.

Following that shot, the Raptors had several chances to tie the game, including a penalty kick by Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) with 8:42 remaining that was saved by Eagles keeper Noah Bartelt (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township). With seconds remaining, a header by the Raptors’ Chris Amato (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) was headed out of the net on a backsave by Eastern’s Matthew Snavely (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central).

The Eagles used first-half goals by VanBrackle and Mike Leitzel (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) to take a seemingly safe 2-0 halftime lead. VanBrackle scored on a 30-yard shot, assisted by Ben Faro (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) at 37:03, and Leitzel drilled in a 25-yard shot off a restart, assisted by Aaron Tritch (Watsontown, PA/Meadowbrook) at 40:50.

Rutgers-Camden cut the gap in half at 66:48 when Ono scored near the goal line on a diving header, assisted by Amato. Moments later, Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) tied the game at 68:22, tipping in a restart by Yilmaz that was sent into the box.

Rutgers-Camden finished with an 18-14 advantage in shots, with including a 12-5 margin in the second half. The Raptors held an 8-3 margin in corner kicks.

Bartelt made six saves and was aided by the backsave en route to his second win in the Cialella Soccer Classic. The Raptors’ Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) and Greg Faust (Lumberton, NJ/St. Joseph, PA) made five saves and one save, respectively.
box

Alvernia 3, Villa Julie 0

In the opening game of the night, Alvernia (1-3) out-shot Villa Julie (2-2), 18-7, and collected a pair of first-half goals on the way to its first win of the season.

Colozzi got the Crusaders on the scoreboard at 27:50, scoring on a 20-yard shot off a restart at the top of the box, following a tap from Adam Lush (Reading, PA/Muhlenberg) to start the play.

The Crusaders added a second goal at 41:15 when Timothy Sweeney (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) followed up the rebounds of a pair of back-to-back saved shots by Villa Julie keeper Adam Wistrowski (Dundalk, MD/Patapsco).
The Crusaders’ final goal came at 47:33 when Schaeffer scored, assisted by Morgan Davidheiser (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown Area).

Wistrowski made seven saves for the Mustangs, while Alvernia keeper Kessler earned the shutout with his five saves.
box

Eastern, Rutgers-Camden post opening wins
at Seventh Annual Cialella Soccer Classic

CAMDEN (Sept. 7, 2007) – The Eastern University men’s soccer team used a second-half goal by freshman Dann DeLorenzo (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) and Rutgers University-Camden received second-half tallies by senior Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) and junior James Ono (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) as both teams won their opening-day game at the Seventh Annual Cialella Soccer Classic here Friday night.

Eastern edged Villa Julie College, 1-0, and Rutgers-Camden defeated defending tourney champion Alvernia College, 2-0.

Between Friday’s games the Scarlet Raptors honored their late teammate Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional), who was killed in an automobile accident in June. That ceremony included the retirement of Baldiserra’s uniform No. 3. Baldiserra, who was a Third Team All-American last season as a junior midfielder, is the first athlete in school history to have his number retired.

In Saturday’s matchups, Alvernia will face Villa Julie at 5 p.m., followed by Rutgers-Camden against Eastern for the title at 7 p.m.

Rutgers-Camden 2, Alvernia 0

In the nightcap featuring the host Scarlet Raptors and the defending Cialella Soccer Classic champion Alvernia Crusaders, Yilmaz headed in a cross from fellow senior captain Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) at 47:15 to break a scoreless deadlock. Freshman Shane McGrory (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) also picked up an assist on the play.

The Scarlet Raptors (2-2) added an insurance goal at 65:22 when Guishard sent a cross into the box from the left side, which was finished by Ono.

Alvernia’s best scoring opportunity came moments after Ono’s goal, when senior James Austerberry (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville Area) ripped a shot off the top of the right post.

Rutgers-Camden senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) had two saves to earn his second shutout of the year. For Alvernia (0-3), junior keeper Richard Kessler (Reading, PA/Reading) collected seven saves as the Raptors held an 18-9 advantage in shots, including a 12-4 margin in the second half.
box

Eastern 1, Villa Julie 0

In the opening game of the night, DeLorenzo’s goal at 69:32 was the only tally the Eagles could muster, despite a commanding 16-5 advantage in shots. That score, however, was enough to even Eastern’s record at 1-1 and hand Villa Julie (2-1) its first defeat of the year.
DeLorenzo took a feed from junior Scott Patrick (Harrisburg, PA/Lower Dauphin) and angled a shot from the left top of the box into the far right corner.

Villa Julie senior keeper Eric Lowman (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) made eight saves in a busy night, while the Eagles earned a combined shutout, with senior Noah Bartelt (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) making one first-half save and junior Michael Dorsch (Wilmington, DE/Christian) picking up two saves and the win in the second half.
box

Overtime goal lifts Villa Julie
to 1-0 win over Rutgers-Camden

OWINGS MILLS, Maryland (Sept. 5, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden men’s soccer team held a commanding 26-12 advantage in shots, including a 9-1 margin in a pair of overtime sessions, but it was that one overtime shot by Villa Julie College that proved to be the difference in the game here Wednesday.

Ryan Payne (Millersville, MD/Old Mill) headed home the lone goal of the game off a restart by Scott Andrzejewski (Towson, MD/Towson), following a yellow card, to lead the Mustangs over the Raptors, 1-0. Payne’s game-winning goal came at 107:47, only 2:13 before the game would have ended in a scoreless tie.

The Mustangs improve to 2-0 in the early going, while the Scarlet Raptors fall to 1-2 with their second straight loss. Rutgers-Camden lost despite a 12-5 advantage in shots in the second half and then out-shooting Villa Julie, 9-0, in overtime before the Mustangs’ lone overtime shot found the net to end the game.

Rutgers-Camden also held an 11-8 advantage in corner kicks.

Villa Julie keeper Eric Lowman (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) made 12 saves to collect the shutout, while he also was aided by a team save. Raptors senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) finished with three saves.

Both teams return to action this weekend at Rutgers-Camden in the Seventh Annual Cialella Soccer Classic. Villa Julie faces Eastern University in the tournament’s first game Friday at 5 p.m. That game will be followed by Rutgers-Camden against defending tournament champion Alvernia College at 7 p.m. Action continues on Saturday with Villa Julie against Alvernia at 5 p.m. and Rutgers-Camden battling Eastern at 7 p.m.

Between Friday's games the Scarlet Raptors will honor their late teammate Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional), who was killed in an automobile accident in June. That ceremony will include the retirement of Baldiserra’s uniform No. 3. Baldiserra, who was a Third Team All-American last season as a junior midfielder, will become the first athlete in school history to have his number retired.

Roanoke edges Rutgers-Camden
to capture Domino’s Classic

SALEM, Virginia (September 1, 2007) – The Roanoke College men’s soccer team rallied from an early deficit and defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 2-1, to capture the championship of the Domino’s Classic here Saturday night.

The Maroons (2-0) received goals from Michael Rouhana (Riverdale, MD/Henry Sibley, MN) and Eric Eversole (Blacksburg, VA/Blacksburg) in the physical game, which featured 36 fouls, seven yellow cards and a red card.

The Scarlet Raptors (1-1) took a 1-0 lead 11:46 into the game when senior midfielder Onur Yilmaz (Delran, NJ/Delran) drilled a restart into the far left corner.

Rouhana, who was named the tournament MVP, tied the game at 24:13 when he headed in a ball that was deflected by Raptor senior goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional).  Grunow had six saves in the game, while Roanoke junior Adam Thompson (Richmond, VA/Trinity Episcopal) had five saves, including four in the opening half.

Eversole gave the Maroons the lead for good at 31:27 when he scored on a penalty kick after being fouled in the box.
Thompson made several outstanding