Hooper’s goal lifts Paterson
to NJAC win at Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN (Oct. 14, 2006) – William Paterson University senior midfielder Jay Hooper (Franklin, NJ/Franklin) scored the lone goal of the game off the rebound of a saved shot to power the Pioneers over Rutgers University-Camden, 1-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game here Saturday night.

The Pioneers improve to 6-7-1 overall and 2-4 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 9-4-3 and 4-2-1, snapping a four-game winning streak.

In a game which saw the Pioneers apply constant pressure and out-hustle the Scarlet Raptors, William Paterson held a 17-5 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Paterson finally broke the scoring ice at 62:50 after Rutgers-Camden senior goalie David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) made a fine one-on-one save against the Pioneers’ Mark Brzyzek (Wallington, NJ/Wallington). Hooper collected the rebound in the box and flicked a shot that glanced off the inside top of the right post and into the net. It was his third goal of the season.

Cunningham made 10 saves in a busy night in goal for the Raptors, who saw their scoreless streak end at 353:14. Cunningham’s personal streak was snapped at 263:14.

For William Paterson, junior keeper David Casper (Franklin, NJ/Timothy Christian) made four saves to collect the shutout.

The contest, the last regular-season home game for the Scarlet Raptors, also served as Senior Night as Rutgers-Camden honored a quartet of four-year players, back Shawn Cunning (Collingswood,, NJ/Collingswood), Cunningham, forward Evan Graves (Somerdale, NJ/Triton Regional) and midfielder Michael Reed (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East).

Both teams return to action with non-conference road games next week. Paterson plays a 3:30 p.m. game Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue. Rutgers-Camden visits Franklin & Marshall College, currently ranked No. 21 in the country in the NSCAA/adidas Top 25 poll, for a 4 p.m. game Wednesday.