Raptor of the Week: Baris Uslu

RAPTOR OF THE WEEK
Baris Uslu (Giresun, Turkey/Triton Regional)

Senior midfielder Baris Uslu collected two goals and one assist during a 3-0 week for the Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer team, including the game-tying and game-winning goals in a 4-1 comeback win over Cabrini College Oct. 8. He also added an assist during a 3-0 victory over Delaware Valley College Oct. 3. For the season, the Scarlet Raptors’ tri-captain owns five goals and four assists, and is second on the team with 14 points.

MEN'S SOCCER (11-3/3-2 NJAC)
Mon., Oct. 3 Rutgers-Camden 3, Delaware Valley College 0
Wed., Oct. 5 Rutgers-Camden 2, Wesley College 1 (2 OT)
Sat., Oct. 8 Rutgers-Camden 4, Cabrini College 1

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Wed., Oct. 12 at William Paterson University 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 at Kean University 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 19 Franklin & Marshall College 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 22 Montclair State College 6 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 26 Ramapo College 7 p.m.

The Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer team took time out from the New Jersey Athletic Conference wars over the past week and built a three-game winning streak against a trio of non-conference foes. Rutgers-Camden posted wins at Delaware Valley College (3-0, Oct. 3) and Wesley College (2-1 in double-overtime, Oct. 5), before returning to Camden during a soggy Homecoming Day to defeat Cabrini College, 4-1.

The Raptors scored three late goals in the driving rain, following a stoppage to clear the field of water, and went on to outlast Cabrini College in a game stopped with 2:42 remaining due to field conditions.

With the two teams deadlocked at 1-1, the game was halted with 14:00 remaining in regulation to clear a lake forming in one corner of the FieldTurf facility. Once play resumed in the driving rain, the Scarlet Raptors’ senior midfielder Baris Uslu (Giresun, Turkey/Triton Regional) scored the tie-breaking goal at 77:25 – 1:25 after the stoppage – off a through ball from sophomore midfielder James Fiorani (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional). It was Uslu’s second goal of the game and fifth of the season.

Freshman forward Andrew Simmons (Winslow, NJ/Winslow Township) added an insurance goal at 79:31, scoring from the left corner assisted by senior midfielder Devin Burgin (Pennsauken, NJ/Bishop Eustace), and sophomore midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) notched the final goal at 81:56. It was the third goal of the season for both Simmons and for Gambino.

The game was stopped with 2:42 remaining when the downpour made the field unplayable, forming lakes throughout the complex.

Cabrini College scored the game’s only first-half goal as junior forward Brent Benner scored at 26:36 off the rebound of a saved shot taken by sophomore Ryan Kirby. It was Benner’s fifth goal of the season and the fourth consecutive game in which he has scored a goal.

Rutgers-Camden tied the game 3:02 into the second half. Uslu headed home a chip into the box by senior back Brett Mattei (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township), who played another strong game for the Raptors.

Sophomore goalie Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) made three saves in 87:18 of playing time to earn the victory. He is 5-1 on the season.

For Cabrini, freshman keeper Colin Hinkelmon had eight saves as the Scarlet Raptors outshot the Cavaliers, 25-7. Both teams had three corner kicks.

On Oct. 5, sophomore midfielder Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional) scored an unassisted goal early in the second overtime period to lift Rutgers-Camden over Wesley College, 2-1, in Dover, DE.

Baldiserra notched his fifth goal of the season at 101:16 – 1:16 into the second overtime – to put a sudden end to the marathon contest. It was his team-leading third game-winning goal.

Wesley junior Robbie Polk gave the home team an early lead at 11:16, scoring off a feed from senior Evan Myers.

Rutgers-Camden tied the game six minutes later when freshman Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King’s Christian School) scored his third tally of the year, following a save off of a shot by senior Kevin Ridgway (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson).

Baldiserra finally ended the contest in the second overtime.

Wesley held a 15-12 edge in shots and the Raptors had three corner kicks to the Wolverines’ two.

Rutgers-Camden junior goalie David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) raised his record to 6-2 while making six saves. Wesley junior goalie Edward Hunt had six saves in the loss.

The Raptors opened their week Oct. 3 with a 3-0 win at Delaware Valley College as sophomore forwards Ryan Evans (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and the freshman Simmons each collected a goal.

Despite out-shooting the Aggies, 15-6, in the opening half, the Raptors managed only one goal when Evans scored an unassisted tally at 25:29. It was his second goal of the year and first game-winning goal.

The Raptors added an insurance goal with 24:30 remaining in the game when Guishard tallied his fourth goal, assisted by Uslu.

The Raptors’ final goal, with 17:15 remaining, came off the foot of Andrew Simmons for his second tally of the season. It was assisted on a touch pass from sophomore midfielder James Ono (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional).

For the game, Rutgers-Camden outshot Delaware Valley College, 26-11, and the Raptors held a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. Aggies goalie Nick D’Amato made 11 saves in 78:02 and backup Jordan Mondello had one save in the final 11:58. The Raptors’ Grunow earned the win with five saves in 74:02. He combined with Chris Comuso (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township) for the shutout, with Comuso working the final 15:58 without a save.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (8-5/2-3 NJAC)
Wed., Oct. 5 Rutgers-Camden 2, Manhattanville College 0
Sat., Oct. 8 Rutgers-Camden 1, St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue 0

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Wed., Oct. 12 William Paterson University 6 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 Kean University 1 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 18 at Albright College 7 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 20 Wesley College 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 22 at Montclair State University 2 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 24 at Baptist Bible 3 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 26 at Ramapo College 4 p.m.

The Lady Raptors posted a pair of home non-conference shutouts during the week as they blanked Manhattanville College (2-0, Oct. 5) and St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue (1-0, Oct. 8) in game which featured early goals and the shutout goalkeeping of sophomore Therese Comella (Delran, NJ/Delran).

Senior midfielder Sarah Pacella (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) scored a goal 1:06 into the game to power Rutgers-Camden over St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue in a rainy non-conference Homecoming Day game.

Pacella scored her first goal of the year following a short corner kick and a chip into the box by junior forward Aubree McDermott (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown). Pacella hit the ball into the net from 10 yards out, giving the Raptors the only goal they needed on the wet day.

Comella made one save to notch her seventh shutout of the season, tying the program record set by Tracy Winter in 2002.

Rutgers-Camden out-shot the Golden Eagles, 10-4, and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Patchogue senior keeper Katie Schnitzenbaumer made two saves.

Earlier in the week, McDermott notched one of the quickest goals in program history, scoring off a corner kick just 44 seconds into the game, to power the Lady Raptors over Manhattanville College.

McDermott scored following a corner kick exchange with freshman midfielder Ally Jones (Audubon, NJ/Audubon), in which her short corner kick was fed back to her. She launched a shot from the left wing into the far right panel for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

The goal, 44 seconds into the game, was just 14 seconds shy of the quickest goal in program history, scored 30 seconds into a 1998 game by current Rutgers-Camden assistant coach Canice Leary. The Raptors also have had a pair of goals scored 36 seconds into the game.

Rutgers-Camden added an insurance goal by sophomore midfielder Deanna Richardson (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) at 33:17, assisted by McDermott. It was Richardson’s first Rutgers-Camden goal.

The Lady Raptors outshot the Valiants, 19-3, and held a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks as Manhattanville lost its fourth consecutive game and third straight shutout defeat.

Manhattanville junior goalie Michele Ribeiro made eight saves on the night, while Comella had two saves.

VOLLEYBALL (0-11/0-4 NJAC)
Tues., Oct. 4 New Jersey City University 30-30-30, Rutgers-Camden 19-10-9
Thurs., Oct. 6 at Keystone College cancelled

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
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.
Tues., Oct. 18 at Rutgers University-Newark 7 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 20 at Immaculata University 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 22 Bryn Athyn College 1 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 26 at Chestnut Hill College 7 p.m.

The Rutgers-Camden volleyball team played only one match during the week, as a scheduled match at Keystone College Oct. 6 was cancelled by the host team. The Lady Raptors’ one outing came against New Jersey City University, one of the top teams in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Rutgers-Camden saw the Gothic Knights’ sensational sophomore Lizzelle Cintron collect 14 kills, 16 digs, one solo blocked shot and four assisted blocks to power NJCU to a three-game sweep in Camden Oct. 4. The Gothic Knights won by scores of 30-19, 30-10 and 30-9.

Cintron’s 14 kills give her 1,122 for her career, leaving her only 21 shy of the program mark of 1,143, set by Melissa Pablos (2000-2003).

The Gothic Knights also received 11 kills and eight digs from freshman Jacqueline LeBlanc, while freshman Sofia Gutierrez notched 24 assists, two kills and seven digs. Sophomore Glorinell Perez collected 12 digs, two assists, four kills, one solo block and one assisted block for the Gothic Knights.

Rutgers-Camden received four kills, two aces, nine digs and one block from junior Karla Maisto (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional), while sophomore Julie Grochowski (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) notched three kills, one ace, 20 digs and one block. Freshman Nikki Cosico (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) had two kills, nine assists, two aces and four digs.

The Lady Raptors also received one ace and eight digs from sophomore Yara Khalil (Medford, NJ/Shawnee), while sophomore Bianca Skvirsky (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) notched two kills and five digs.

GOLF
Oct. 6 ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE BLUE JAY INVITATIONAL
(at Hershey Country Club, Hershey, PA)

1. Susquehanna, 294; 2. Franklin & Marshall, 300; 3. McDaniel, 305; 4. Gettysburg, 308; 5.(tie) Moravian and York (PA), 309 7. Ursinus, 318; 8. Dickinson, 320; 9. Messiah, 321; 10. Albright, 324; 11. Elizabethtown, 327; 12. Rutgers-Camden, 329; 13. King’s (PA), 332; 14. Lebanon Valley, 334.

Individual medalist: Pat Serfass (Susquehanna), 68.

Rutgers-Camden medalist: Matt Tomasic, 78.
Rutgers-Camden scores: Tomasic 78, Brian Mason 79, John Goff 85, Mike Nauss 86, Joe Zulli 87.

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

Fri., Oct. 28 Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors Fall Invitational 12:30 p.m.
(at Town & Country Golf Links, Woodstown)

Junior Matt Tomasic (Berlin, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) shot a 78 to power the Rutgers University-Camden golf team to a 329 score at the Elizabethtown Fall Blue Jay Classic Oct. 6 in Hershey, PA.

The invitational was played on the Par 71, 7,061-yard Hershey Country Club East Course.

Susquehanna was the team champion with a 294 score, led by individual medalist Pat Serfass, who shot a 68. Rutgers-Camden finished 12th in the 14-team field.

Senior Brian Mason (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) shot a 79 for the Scarlet Raptors. Senior John Goff (Haddon Heights, NJ/Paul VI) shot an 85, followed by freshman Michael Nauss (Blackwood, NJ/Paul VI) with an 86 and senior Joe Zulli (Bellmawr, NJ/Paul VI) with an 87.

CROSS COUNTRY
Oct. 8 at Goldey Beacom College Cross Country Invitational
(at Carousel Park, Wilmington, DE)

MEN (8K): 1. West Chester University, 37; 2. Nyack College, 86; 3. Lincoln University, 117; 4. Goldey Beacom College, 122; 5. Kean University, 132; 6. Wilmington College, 133; 7. Philadelphia University, 145; 8. Holy Family University, 197; 9. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 203; 10. Wesley College, 254; 11. Rutgers-Camden, 260; 12. Cheyney University, 309.

Leading runner: Tom Byrne (West Chester), 29:16.72.
Leading Rutgers-Camden runner: Travis Stewart, 32:26.33.

WOMEN (5K): 1. Philadelphia University, 57; 2. Georgian Court College, 78; 3. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 88; 4. Wilmington College and Kean University, 127; 6. Lincoln University, 169; 7. Nyack College, 177; 8. Rutgers-Camden, 218; 9. Holy Family University, 221; 10. Goldey Beacom College, 232; 11. Wesley College, 234; 12. Cheyney University, 325.

Leading runner: Joy Aifuwa (USP), 21:16.58.
Leading Rutgers-Camden runner: Joelle Diener, 22:42.17.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sat., Oct. 15 at Cabrini College Invitational M: 2 p.m.
(at Belmont Plateau, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia) W: 2:45 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 29 at New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships W: 10:30 a.m.
(at Richard Stockton College, Pomona, NJ) M: 11:30 a.m.

Sat., Nov. 5 at ECAC Championships W: 11 a.m.
(at Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, CT) M: 12 p.m.

Senior Joelle Diener (Rickenbach, Switzerland/Kantonsschule, Olten) led the Rutgers-Camden women’s team and freshman Travis Stewart (Runnemede, NJ/Triton Regional) paced the men’s squad as the Scarlet Raptors competed at the Goldey Beacom Cross Country Invitational on a rainy Oct. 8 at Carousel Park in Wilmington, DE.

Diener finished eighth out of 95 runners in the 5K race in a time of 22:42.17 to lead the Lady Raptors to an eighth-place finish with 218 points. Philadelphia University (57 points) finished first in the 12-team field. Joy Aifuwa of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia was the individual winner with a 21:16.58 clocking.

For the men, Stewart ran a 32:26.33 to finish 23rd overall in the 8K race, which was won by Tom Byrne of West Chester University. Byrne clocked a 29:16.72 time to out-run the 88-man field and lead West Chester to the team title (37 points). Rutgers-Camden finished 11th (260 points) out of 12 teams.

Rachel McCormick (Blue Anchor, NJ/Winslow Township) finished 49th overall and second on the Lady Raptors in a time of 26:34.07. The final three runners on the Lady Raptors’ squad, all members of the school’s basketball program, were Carmen Zimmitt (Woodstown, NJ/Woodstown), Imani Hafiz (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) and Tanishia Greene (Georgetown, SC/Georgetown). Zimmitt finished 62nd overall (28:24.33), while Hafiz was 76th (31:24.70) and Greene was 86th (33:45.38).

Rutgers-Camden fielded a complete men’s team for the first time this season, bolstered by the addition of baseball players Matt Calloway (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) and Brian Jakubowski (Audubon, NJ/Audubon), running in their first race.

Stewart led the Raptors, followed by senior Chris McGowan (Barrington, NJ/Gloucester Catholic), who was 40th overall with a time of 33:56.72. Calloway ran a 41:19.65 and Jakubowski finished in 42:39.74 to finish 79th and 81st, respectively. Senior Taiwan Lamb (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City), running in his first meet of the season, finished 88th at 1:02:25.42.

WOMEN’S CREW

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sat., Oct. 15 Navy Day Regatta
(at Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA)

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