Rutgers-Camden Athletics Department

Merchant Marine outlasts
Rutgers-Camden in opener

KINGS POINT, NY (Sept. 2, 2006) – The United States Merchant Marine Academy scored a first-half goal and the Mariners made that tally stand up on a windy, rainy day as they edged Rutgers University-Camden, 1-0, in the season opener for both men’s soccer powers.

The contest was the first regular-season game in the Rutgers-Camden coaching career of Tim Oswald, who was hired in December following the resignation of six-year Scarlet Raptor head coach Greg Ogden.

Merchant Marine, coming off a 14-5-2 season, notched the lone goal at 37:24 on a 20-yard shot into the top left corner by sophomore forward Taylor Pankratz (Nacogdoches, TX/Nacogdoches). He was assisted by junior forward Joe Castro (Oldsmar, FL/East Lake) and junior midfielder David Poulnot (Sullivans Island, SC/Bishop England).

The Mariners outshot the Scarlet Raptors, 12-3, as senior goalie Joseph Halverson (San Antonio, TX/W.H. Taft) made only one save to collect the win.

Rutgers-Camden, coming off of a 15-5-1 season which saw the Scarlet Raptors advance to the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship game, received eight saves by junior keeper Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional).

The game featured 33 fouls, four yellow cards and a red card, which forced the Raptors to play the last 6:34 a man down.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Wednesday with a road. game against Neumann College. The game will be played at 7 p.m. at Widener University.