Raptor of the Week: Pat Baldiserra

RAPTOR OF THE WEEK
Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional)

Sophomore midfielder Pat Baldiserra took his high-quality game up another notch when the Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer team faced No. 8 nationally-ranked Richard Stockton College Sept. 17. Baldiserra scored two goals, including the winner with 2:31 gone in the first overtime period, as the Raptors defeated the Ospreys for the first time in 13 years. Baldiserra’s first goal tied the game at 1-1 early in the second half. His second goal lifted Rutgers-Camden to a 4-3 win.

MEN'S SOCCER (6-1/1-0 NJAC)
Tues., Sept. 13 Rutgers-Camden 3, Albright College 0
Sat., Sept. 17 Rutgers-Camden 4, Richard Stockton College 3 (1 OT)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Wed., Sept. 21 Rowan University 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 New Jersey City University 7 p.m.
Wed. Sept. 28 at Rutgers University-Newark 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 1 at The College of New Jersey 1 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 3 at Delaware Valley College 4 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 5 at Wesley College 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 8 Cabrini College 4 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 12 at William Paterson University 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 at Kean University 7 p.m.

The Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer team is proving it not only can play with the big boys, but it is quickly becoming one of those big boys on the national soccer scene. Rutgers-Camden, which has been ranked as high as “Also Receiving Votes” in the national Top 25 poll this season (Sept. 6), knocked off its second nationally-ranked team of the year by edging No. 8 Richard Stockton College, 4-3, on an overtime goal by Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional) Sept. 17 in Camden.

The Raptors, who earlier in the season downed then-No. 22 Elizabethtown College, 2-1, are now 2-0 against teams which were ranked in the Top 25 at game time. Their only loss came against a team that had been ranked No. 17 the week before the game (Arcadia University) before falling out of the poll.

The win over Stockton was huge in many ways. Not only was it the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams and a victory over a Top 10 club, but it was Rutgers-Camden’s first victory over the Opreys since a 3-2 win at Stockton on Sept. 30, 1992, snapping a 13-year streak which saw the Raptors post an 0-13-2 mark against Stockton.

The win over Stockton featured just about everything, including a 50-minute lightning delay.

In the end, it was an overtime goal by Baldiserra which lifted the Scarlet Raptors to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Ospreys. Baldiserra scored his second goal of the game when he banged home a shot from the top of the box 2:31 into the first overtime period, assisted by senior midfielder Devin Burgin (Pennsauken, NJ/Bishop Eustace). It was the second assist for Burgin, who also had a goal earlier in the wild game.

The Ospreys scored the game’s first goal at 6:31, following a corner kick. Senior midfielder Dan Morse received the ball at the top of the box and sent it in on goal, where sophomore back Dan Kroslin headed it home from the doorstep past Raptor junior goalie David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional).

Kroslin’s goal, his first of the season, was the lone tally of a first half which saw Rutgers-Camden hold a 6-5 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.

The Scarlet Raptors notched the tying goal 13:18 into the second half after a shot by sophomore forward Onur Yilmaz (Giresun, Turkey/Delran) was blocked by Stockton freshman keeper Matt Hart. Baldiserra collected the rebound and knocked it into the goal.

Rutgers-Camden took the lead at 66:19 – eight minutes later – when a shot by senior back Tom Blumenstein (Audubon, NJ/Paul VI) was deflected right to Burgin in the box. Burgin knocked it home to give the Raptors a 2-1 advantage.

Stockton tied the game with 16:42 remaining in regulation when senior forward Scott Adams scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season, assisted by freshman midfielder Ray Nelson. It was the fifth straight game in which Adams has scored a goal, and the game was immediately halted by the lightning delay.

When play resumed, Adams notched his second straight goal, coming officially only 1:01 after the first tally, yet almost an hour later in actual time. He was assisted by freshman back Brett Ferron.

Stockton’s lead lasted until 4:21 remaining in regulation, when Burgin’s cross was headed into the net by senior midfielder Baris Uslu (Giresun, Turkey/Triton Regional), setting up the overtime dramatics.

Rutgers-Camden outshot Stockton, 23-13, in the game and held a 10-8 edge in corner kicks. Cunningham made four saves for the win, while Hart had eight in the loss.

Earlier in the week, senior forward Kevin Ridgway (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) scored a goal 2:25 into the game, off a cross by Yilmaz, to power the Scarlet Raptors to a 3-0 victory at Albright College Sept. 13 in Reading, PA.

In a game which saw the Raptors outshoot the Lions, 20-5, Ridgway’s goal was the only tally of the first half. Rutgers-Camden, however, notched an insurance goal at 64:00 by Yilmaz and put the game away on a tally by Burgin 10 minutes later.

Rutgers-Camden collected the shutout on the combined efforts of Cunningham and sophomore Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional). Cunningham made four saves while working the first 75:00, while Grunow had one save in the final 15:00 as the Raptors recorded their second shutout of the season.

For Albright, sophomore goalkeeper Joe Hartmann made eight first-half saves and freshman keeper Wendell Hanneford made three second-half saves in his collegiate debut.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (4-3/0-1 NJAC)
Wed., Sept. 14 Rutgers-Camden 1, Cabrini College 0 (1 OT)
Sat. , Sept. 17 Richard Stockton College 2, Rutgers-Camden 0

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Wed., Sept. 21 at Rowan University 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 at New Jersey City University 1 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 28 Rutgers University-Newark 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 1 The College of New Jersey 1 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 3 at Centenary College 4 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 5 Manhattanville College 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 8 St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue 1:30 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 12 William Paterson University 6 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 Kean University 1 p.m.

The Lady Raptors produced one goal in 182:19 of playing time last week, but that goal proved to be a game-winner as Rutgers-Camden split a pair of contests.

Junior forward Aubree McDermott (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) scored the game’s only goal 2:19 into the first overtime period to power the Lady Raptors over Cabrini College, 1-0, in a non-conference game Sept. 14 in Camden.

McDermott took a pass near midfield from freshman midfielder Ally Jones (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) and raced down the right touchline in a one-on-one battle with a Cabrini back. She turned the corner and closed in on the goal before she drilled a shot into the far panel for the game-winning tally. It was McDermott’s third goal of the season.

Rutgers-Camden outshot Cabrini, 14-6, and the Lady Cavaliers held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Lady Raptor sophomore keeper Therese Comella (Delran, NJ/Delran) made two saves to earn her third shutout of the season. For Cabrini, sophomore Lea Conti had six saves.

The Raptors opened their New Jersey Athletic Conference season on Sept. 17 in Pomona, and they were shut down in a 2-0 loss to Richard Stockton College.

The Ospreys used goals from Kari Devine and Jaci Greenstein on their way to the NJAC win.

Devine scored her first goal of the season at 8:10, assisted by Katie Henderson. The Ospreys added an insurance goal in the second half when Greenstein headed home a corner kick by Val Davison.

Stockton outshot Rutgers-Camden, 16-2, and held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Osprey keeper Becky Baisley registered two saves to record Stockton’s first shutout of the season. Comella had seven saves for the Lady Raptors.

GOLF

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Mon., Sept. 19 at Franklin & Marshall College Invitational 1 p.m
(Bent Creek Golf Course, Hershey, PA)

Thur., Sept. 22 at Moravian College Fall Invitational 1 p.m.
(Southmoore Golf Course, Lancaster, PA)

Mon., Sept. 26 at Lebanon Valley College Fall Invitational 12:30 p.m.
(Lebanon Country Club, Lebanon, PA)

Thur., Oct. 6 at Elizabethtown College Blue Jay Invitational 12 p.m.
(Hershey Country Club , PA)

Mon., Oct. 10 at Muhlenberg College Invitational 11 a.m.
(Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, PA)

Fri., Oct. 24 Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors Fall Invitational 12:30 p.m.
(at Town & Country Golf Links, Woodstown)

The golf team swings back into action this week with a pair of invitationals. The Scarlet Raptors’ only action of the season to date has come at the Wesley College Invitational Sept. 8, when Rutgers-Camden finished eighth out of 15 teams and recorded a 313 team score. Senior Brian Mason (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) shot a round of 76 to lead the Raptors.

VOLLEYBALL (0-3/0-1 NJAC)
Tues., Sept. 13 Montclair State University 30-30-30, Rutgers-Camden 22-23-25
Thur., Sept. 15 at Cabrini College 30-30-31, Rutgers-Camden 11-7-29

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Tues., Sept. 20 William Paterson University 7 p.m.
Thur., Sept. 22 at Ramapo College 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 at SUNY-Farmingdale Tournament
at SUNY-Farmingdale 12 p.m.
vs. Centenary College 2 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 27 at Rosemont College 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 29 at Arcadia University 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 1 Alvernia College 11 a.m.
Tues., Oct. 4 New Jersey City University 7 p.m.
Thur., Oct. 6 at Keystone College 7 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 11 Kean University 7 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 13 Richard Stockton College 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 at Gothic Knights Volleyball Invitational 9 a.m.

The Lady Raptors suffered a pair of road losses during the week, being swept at both Montclair State University and at Cabrini College.

In their New Jersey Athletic Conference opener Sept. 13, the Raptors saw Montclair State junior Heather Aciz collect 10 kills and 14 digs, while sophomore Zairy Ramos added nine kills and 10 digs, to lead the Red Hawks to victory, 30-22, 30-23 and 30-25. Sophomore Melissa Ciaccio added 26 assists for the Red Hawks.

Junior Karla Maisto (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) had eight kills, three service aces and five digs for Rutgers-Camden. Freshman Nikki Cosico (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) had 13 assists, while sophomore Julie Grochowski (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) recorded three kills, two aces, 10 digs and four solo blocks.

Two days later in Radnor, PA, Grochowski recorded four kills, three aces, 12 digs and two blocks, but Rutgers-Camden lost to Cabrini, 30-11, 30-7 and 31-29.

Maisto collected seven kills, two aces and four digs, while Cosico had 11 assists and two kills.

Sophomore Bianca Skvirsky (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) collected three aces and one dig for the Lady Raptors. Sophomore Yara Khalil (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) added four digs.

CROSS COUNTRY

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sat., Sept. 24 at Philadelphia Metro Small College Tournament W: 12:15 p.m.
(at Cedar Creek Park, Allentown, PA) M: 1 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 1 at NJAIAW Championships (Women) 10:30 a.m.
at William Paterson University Invitational (Men) 11:30 a.m.
(at Garrett Mountain, West Paterson, NJ)

Sat., Oct. 8 at Goldey Beacom College Cross Country Fall Classic W: 10:30 a.m.
(at Carousel Park, Wilmington, DE) M: 11:30 a.m.

WOMEN’S CREW

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sat., Oct. 1 Head of the Ohio
(Ohio River, Pittsburgh, PA)

Sat., Oct. 15 Navy Day Regatta
(Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA)

Sat., Oct. 29 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
(Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA)