Quarterfinals, Wednesday, Nov. 8
Game 1: #1 New Jersey City University 2, #8 Centenary College 0
Game 4: #4 Kean University 2, #5 Drew University 1

Quarterfinals, Thursday, Nov. 9
Game 2: #2 Rutgers University-Camden 5, #7 City College of New York 0
Game 3: #3 Richard Stockton College 3, #6 Ramapo College 1

Semifinals, Saturday, Nov. 11
Game #5: #1 New Jersey City University 2, #4 Kean University 1
Game #6: #2 Rutgers-Camden 2, #3 Richard Stockton College 1

Championship, Sunday, Nov. 12
Game #7: #2 Rutgers-Camden 1, #1 New Jersey City University, 0

RUTGERS-CAMDEN WINS FIRST ECAC TITLE, SLIPS PAST NJCU, 1-0

JERSEY CITY, NJ -- No. 2 seed Rutgers University-Camden scored the only goal of the game with 8:55 remaining in the second half and held off the attack by No. 1 seeded New Jersey City University, as the Scarlet Raptors defeated NJCU, 1-0, in the championship game of the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro Tournament. It is the first ECAC title in men's soccer for Camden. The game at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field was contested under heavy rain and winds in the second half.

Camden concludes the season with a 13-4-6 record while remaining unbeaten in its final seven games of the season. NJCU (17-6-2) finished the year with a school-record 17 victories for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in six seasons, but once again could not muster an 18th victory.

The shutout marked the first time NJCU has been shutout at home since a 1-0 loss to Montclair State University on October 30, 2002-a span of 46 games. NJCU was shutout for only the second time this season and second time in its last 43 contests.

Rutgers-Camden junior midfielder Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional) was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He had one goal and three assists in three ECAC games, including setting up the winner against NJCU

It was the third meeting between NJCU and R-C in 18 days, with Camden-which leads the all-time series 16-8-5-going 2-0-1 in those contests. The win for R-C was the only time in the seven-game ECAC tournament that the lower seed prevailed.

NJCU, making its seventh appearance in the ECACs and third in the finals, is 10-5-1 in 16 ECAC games and 8-4-1 at home. Camden was making its fourth appearance in the ECACs (3-3-0).

The only goal of the game came at 81:05 of the second half. After two NJCU players collided in their own third of the field while battling the difficult weather conditions, Camden took advantage with a 2-1 on breakaway. Baldiserra fed a pass onto the right wing. Before NJCU junior goalkeeper BRUCE NEVES (Newark, NJ/ Hudson Catholic) could cut off the play on the right wing, junior midfielder Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) knocked a shot into the right side of the net, for a 1-0 lead. It was his sixth goal of the year, and fourth game-winner, including two against NJCU.

The assist for Baldiserra was his 13th of the season, breaking Camden's single-season record of 12 set in 1976 by Ruthven Williams, and matched in 1995 by Mike Zeno. He also tied NJCU sophomore midfielder CRISTHIAN ACUNA (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) for the NJAC lead in assists.

NJCU had a commanding lead in shots in the game, 21-9, including 9-3 in the second half. However, there were very few solid scoring chances for either side, as NJCU held a 5-4 margin in shots on goal. NJCU also had 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. The game featured 36 fouls, and was marred by an ugly altercation in the Camden goalmouth with 5:41 remaining in regulation.

Camden senior keeper David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) made five saves to record his fourth shutout of the season and the team's 10th. His best stop came at 84:19, when he blocked a shot by NJCU senior midfielder CHRIS PALUMBO (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood), before the game was stopped. Neves made three saves for NJCU, which limited an opponent to five or fewer shots on goal for the 18th time in 25 games this season.

NJCU OUSTS KEAN, 2-1 IN ECAC SEMIFINALS; GOTHIC KNIGHTS WILL PLAY CAMDEN FOR ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP ON NOVEMBER 12

JERSEY CITY, NJ...New Jersey City University opened up a 2-0 lead midway through the second half, and held on, as the top-seeded Gothic Knights won 17 games for the third consecutive year and advanced to the ECAC Finals, with a 2-1 victory over #4 seeded Kean University in the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro semifinals on Saturday at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

With the win, NJCU improves to 17-5-2 overall, while Kean's season ends at 10-8-5. The Gothic Knights win 17 games in a season for the fourth time in six years, to tie the single-season record for victories (2001, 2004, 2005). NJCU is unbeaten against Kean in the last four meetings, with three victories.

NJCU will face #2 seed Rutgers University-Camden (12-4-6), 2-1 winners over Richard Stockton College in the other semifinal, on Sunday, November 12 at 1 p.m. in Jersey City, NJ in the ECAC championship game. NJCU, the 2004 ECAC champions, advance to the ECAC finals for the third time in its history (2001, 2004). It will be the third meeting between NJCU and Camden in 18 days.

The Gothic Knights have now won 16 of their last 17 home contests and 26 of 28. The Knights are 38-5-1 at home over the last four seasons.

NJCU improves to 10-4-1 in 15 ECAC games and 8-3-1 at home all-time in the history of the tournament.

NJCU opened up a 1-0 lead at 38:51 of the first period, when senior midfielder JUAN VERA (Belleville, NJ/Harrison) scored his first goal of the season as he buried a shot into the lower right corner off a cross into the box from the right by sophomore midfielder EDISON BILBAO (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep). It was Vera's fifth career goal and first since October 31, 2004. The assist for Bilbao gives him 15 points on the season (five assists).

NJCU added to its lead at 68:27 of the second half as for the second consecutive game, NJCU scored a game-winning goal off of a corner kick from senior midfielder OMAR ALI (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne). He sent a kick from the right corner onto the left of the box, where sophomore midfielder PATRICK THOMAS (Roselle, NJ/Linden) unleashed an awesome header into the left side of the box for his sixth goal of the season, his 16th point and second game winner. It was Ali's second assist.

Kean closed the gap to 2-1 exactly 3:30 later, as junior midfielder Damien Serafin (Wallington, NJ/Wallington) knocked in a loose ball on the right side off of a scramble at 71:57, for his sixth goal of the year. Junior forward Anthony Tuesta (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) was credited with his fourth assist and 30th point of the season. It was Kean's last shot of the game.

The one-goal cushion was enough for the NJCU defense, which limited Kean to only five shots on goal-the 17th time in 24 games, it has allowed five or less on target. Junior goalkeeper BRUCE NEVES (Newark, NJ/ Hudson Catholic) made four saves to improve to 33-12-4 in net in his career. Kean junior keeper Kyle Crego (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) rejected 11 shots. NJCU outshot Kean, 17-11, including 13-5 on net.

Rutgers-Camden men edge Stockton
to reach ECAC Metro soccer final

CAMDEN -  Freshman midfielder Mark Gidjunis (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) scored the game-winning goal with 12:52 remaining, assisted by senior forward Evan Graves (Somerdale, NJ/Triton Regional), to power Rutgers University-Camden over Richard Stockton College, 2-1, in a semifinal game of the ECAC Div. III Men's Metro Soccer Championship here Saturday.

The second-seeded Scarlet Raptors will play for the ECAC title Sunday at 1 p.m. at top-seeded New Jersey City University. The Gothic Knights also earned a 2-1 semifinal victory Saturday, beating #4 Kean University.

The ECAC Metro title game will mark the third meeting between Rutgers-Camden and NJCU this season. The pair of New Jersey Athletic Conference rivals played in Jersey City Oct. 25, with Rutgers-Camden posting a 3-2 victory. They had a battle in Camden Oct. 31 in the NJAC playoff semifinals. After playing to a 1-1 double-overtime deadlock, the Gothic Knights advanced to the final by winning the penalty kick tie-breaker, 4-1.

With a potential overtime approaching, the Raptors notched the winning goal when Graves sent a cross to the top of the box from the left side. Gidjunis, who had notched his first collegiate goal in a 4-1 ECAC quarterfinal win over City College of New York Thursday night, settled the ball, spun and hit a shot into the left side of the net for his second goal and first collegiate game-winning tally.
That goal proved to be enough to help the Scarlet Raptors eliminate the defending ECAC Metro tournament champions. Stockton closes its season at 14-6-2, while Rutgers-Camden heads to the finals with a 12-4-6 record.
The Raptors notched the game's first goal at 20:46 when sophomore forward Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King's Christian School) scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season. He slipped a shot inside the right post after taking a short through ball in the box from junior midfielder Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional). The assist was the 12th of the year for Baldiserra, tying the program's single-season record shared by Ruthven Williams (1976) and Mike Zeno (1995).

Stockton tied the game 3:24 into the second half when senior midfielder Brad Wescott (Newfield, NJ/Buena Regional) scored his third goal of the year off of a loose ball in the box.

Rutgers-Camden held a slim 14-13 advantage in shots and a 6-4 margin in corner kicks. Raptors senior goalie David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) and Ospreys sophomore keeper Matt Hart (Dayton, NJ/South Brunswick) each made five saves.

STOCKTON ADVANCES WITH 3-1 ECAC WIN OVER RAMAPO

(Pomona, NJ) - Third-seeded Richard Stockton (14-5-2) advanced into the semifinals of the ECAC Metro tournament by defeating sixth-seeded Ramapo (10-7-1) 3-1 tonight.  The Ospreys, who advanced to face Rutgers-Camden on Saturday, got goals from three different players to help goalkeeper Mart Hart (Dayton/South Brunswick) win his 11th game of the season.

Bryan Choma (Middletown/Middletown North) helped Ramapo get on the board first on an unassisted goal at 3:35.  Stockton's Brad Wescott (Newfield/Buena) answered with a goal at 21:08 with an assist from Butch Huff (Toms River/TR North) to tie the game at 1-1.  Jeremy Borrero (Hammonton/Hammonton) then scored off a pass from Mike Holmes (Toms River/ TR North) to make it 2-1 in favor of Stockton going into halftime.

In the second half, Stockton got an unassisted goal by Sean McCallum (Vineland/Wineland) at 46:57 to put the Ospreys ahead 3-1.  Stockton put a lot of pressure on Ramapo goalies Mike Kull (Millville/Millville) and Ian Tighe (Wyckoff/Ramapo), who each played a half and combined for five saves.  The Ospreys outshot Ramapo 20-4 in the game.

Third-seeded Stockton will be back in action on Saturday, November 12th at 1 pm for an ECAC Metro tournament semifinal game at second-seeded Rutgers-Camden.  Ramapo's season is now complete.

Rutgers-Camden Advances on 5-0 Victory

CAMDEN - Torrential rains and flooding forced the Rutgers University-Camden and City College of New York men's soccer teams to wait a day before playing their quarterfinal game in the 2006 ECAC Division III Metro Championship.

When the second-seeded Scarlet Raptors and seventh-seeded Beavers finally played here Thursday, Rutgers-Camden used a flood of first-half goals on its way to a 5-0 victory over CCNY. The Scarlet Raptors scored four first-half goals as they raised their record to 11-4-6.

The victory advanced Rutgers-Camden to the ECAC Metro semifinals, where it will host #3 Richard Stockton College Saturday at 1 p.m.

Stockton defeated #6 Ramapo College, 3-1, in another rain-delayed quarterfinal game Thursday night, making the ECAC Metro semifinals an all-New Jersey Athletic Conference affair. In Saturday's other semifinal game, top-seeded New Jersey City University hosts No. 4 Kean University at 1 p.m.

The win was the first ECAC tournament victory for Rutgers-Camden, which lost its previous three ECAC games in 1988, 2000 and 2001.
Rutgers-Camden junior midfielder Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional) collected a goal and an assist in the contest. He scored the game's first goal at 4:43, picking up a loose ball in the box after CCNY keeper Neil Khalid Salim (Queens, NY/Pelham Memorial) made a save against the Raptors' Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest). It was Baldiserra's fourth goal of the season.

Baldiserra added a second-half assist on a goal by freshman back Pat Morris (Bellmawr, NJ/Paul VI). The assist, a cross from the left side for a tap-in by Morris, was the 11th of the year for Baldiserra, one shy of the single-season program mark shared by Ruthven Williams (1976) and Mike Zeno (1995). It also was his 22nd career assist, six shy of Zeno's program mark (1992-95).

Rutgers-Camden, which held a 19-9 advantage in shots, added a second goal at 12:04. Freshman midfielder Mark Gidjunis (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) notched his first career goal off an assist from junior midfielder Rob Gambino (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee).
A takedown in the box gave the Raptors a penalty kick at 29:02, and senior goalie David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) took the shot to score his first career goal. Moments later, team-leading scorer Andrew Dorsey (Mt. Laurel, NJ/The King's Christian School) tallied his ninth goal at 33:21. The sophomore forward was assisted by freshman midfielder Dom Crocetti (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross).

Cunningham collected three saves while playing 34:03 in goal to earn the victory. He split the shutout with junior Brent Grunow (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) and freshman Corey McDonough (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic). Grunow played 21:18 without needing to make a save, while McDonough made one save in the final 34:39. It was the Raptors' ninth team shutout of the year.

For the Beavers, who end their season at 10-7, Salim made five saves.

Kean University Soccer Moves Past Drew, 2-1

Union, N.J. (11/8/06)- Freshman Thomas Bodyziak (Clifton, N.J.) tallied what would be the winning goal with just over two minutes to play as fourth seeded Kean University defeated fifth seeded Drew University, 2-1, in quarterfinal action of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Region Tournament.

With the win, the Cougars (10-7-5) advance to play #1 New Jersey City University on Saturday, November 11th at a time to be determined.

Both teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half as Kean out-shot the Rangers (9-8-1) 8-4. The Cougars got on the board in the 52nd minute as junior Thomas Fink (Hamilton, N.J.) sent a cross into the center box where junior midfielder Edgar Chaves (Bridgewater, N.J.) netted the match's first goal. Later in the match, the Cougars went ahead 2-0 as Bodyziak took a cross from the endline by junior Anthony Tuesta (Clifton, N.J.). The Rangers would not go quietly however, as senior Joe Favata (Livingston, N.J.) broke up the shutout on a pass from Anthony Pisani (Wyckoff, N.J.) in the 89th minute.

Junior netminder Kyle Crego (Ocean City, N.J.) and freshman Andrew Juliano (Hopewell, N.J.) each recorded four saves for their respective teams on the evening.