Ryan's two goals lift No. 3 Rutgers-Camden

September 28, 2013

HILLSIDE, N.J. (Sept. 28, 2013) –Mike Ryan (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) has been a difference-maker throughout his brief Rutgers University-Camden career, and the sophomore All-American worked his goal-scoring magic again here Saturday afternoon.

Ryan scored both Scarlet Raptor goals, including the game winner with 15:39 remaining, to lead nationally-ranked Rutgers-Camden over Kean University, 2-1, in a physical New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game that featured seven yellow cards and 26 fouls.

The win helped the Scarlet Raptors stretch their unbeaten streak to 23 games over two years (20-0-3), tying for 19th place on the NCAA Division III charts with Williams (1987-88) and Ohio Wesleyan (Sept. 1-Nov. 18, 2000).

The Scarlet Raptors, who are ranked No. 3 in both the NSCAA poll and the D3soccer.com Top 25 rankings, improve to 11-0 overall, extending their school records for winning streaks and perfect starts to a season. The two-time defending NJAC champions also improve to 3-0 in conference play.

Kean, falls to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC.

Kean leads the all-time series, 28-13-1, but Rutgers-Camden has gone 9-1-1 in the last 11 battles.

Ryan beat his defender on the left side of the box and scored his sixth game-winning goal with a hard liner at 74:21. His second goal of the game gave him a team-leading 12 this season and 29 career goals in only 33 games.

Ryan scored his first goal at 16:49, launching a low header into the net from five yards out off a cross from senior midfielder Stevan Austino (Buena, NJ/Buena Regional). The assist was the first of the season for Austino, who also owns three goals.

Kean tied the game at 54:12 when freshman Akwasi Adu (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) collected a deflection off a defender and slipped the ball past Raptor senior goalie Mike Randall (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East).

Tied up at 1-1, Rutgers-Camden looked to regain the lead on a rocket fired from senior midfielder Mitch Grotti (Milmay, NJ/Millville) in the 68th minute, but Kean keeper Brad Watkins (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) laid out to his left for the diving stop.

Randall finished with five saves and Watkins had six. The Cougars also had a pair of backsaves.

Kean held a 16-15 advantage in shots and Rutgers-Camden held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.

Both teams had 13 fouls and Rutgers-Camden drew five of the seven yellow cards.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday night when they travel to The College of New Jersey for a 7:30 p.m. NJAC game.