JERSEY CITY, N.J. (October 26, 2011) – The late-season playoff push came up one point too short for the Rutgers University-Camden women’s soccer team.

Needing a win or a tie in their final regular-season game to qualify for the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs, the Scarlet Raptors dropped a 2-1 decision here Wednesday afternoon against New Jersey City University.

Rutgers-Camden closes its season at 2-11-2 overall. The Scarlet Raptors finished with a 2-5-1 record in the NJAC, the same mark as William Paterson University. The Raptors and the Pioneers tied each other 2-2 and both teams beat the two teams below them, Rutgers-Newark and Ramapo. The Pioneers, however, had a better goal differential in conference play, so they edged out the Raptors on the third tie-breaker and earned the sixth and final playoff spot.
New Jersey City University closes its regular season with a 13-6 record overall and a 4-4 mark in the NJAC, its best league mark in program history. The Gothic Knights will be the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will play a first-round game at No. 4 Richard Stockton College Saturday.

It was the third straight win for the Gothic Knights against the Raptors, although Rutgers-Camden leads the all-time series, 9-3.

The Gothic Knights received one goal apiece from its dynamic duo of senior strikers Jennifer Albuja (Union City, NJ/Hoboken) and Julia Caseres (Union, NJ/Union). That duo has combined for 184 goals in its career, including 97 by Caseres, and ranks third in Division III history with 427 points. They are only five shy of the all-time record of 432 by a pair of Kalamazoo College players from 1989-93.

NJCU scored only 14:29 into the contest on a strike by Albuja. Freshman midfielder Amanda Filippone (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) slid a pass to her left with the side of her foot in the middle of the box. Albuja one-timed a shot to the left side for her 21st goal of the season and the 87th strike of her career.

NJCU held a 13-5 advantage in shots in the first half, although only three were on goal. Rutgers-Camden sophomore keeper Leighanna Milby (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) made two first-half saves, while NJCU freshman Brittany Hoffman (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) saved the Raptors’ only first-half shot on goal.

NJCU outshot Rutgers-Camden, 29-8, overall, including 16-3 in the second half.

NJCU added to its lead with the eventual game-winning goal by Caseres at 56:32. She had a diving header to knock home a cross from sophomore Brianna Taylor (Linden, NJ/Linden).

Rutgers-Camden cut its gap to 2-1 at 78:38 when freshman midfielder Rebecca Gougher (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) collected her first collegiate point, lifting a high pass over the NJCU defense. Sophomore back Bec Garretson (Atco, NJ/Hammonton) ran onto the ball for a breakaway and finished a one-on-one shot into the left side to make it a one-goal game with 11:22 remaining. It was the first goal of the season for Garretson.

That was the Raptors’ last shot of the game and the season as the Gothic Knights closed out their victory.

Milby finished with six saves for the Scarlet Raptors, while Hoffman had two.