NEWARK, NJ – Junior forward
Innocent Buule chipped in a golden goal in the first overtime as Rutgers-Newark battled past Richard Stockton, 1-0, in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament on Alumni Field.
Rutgers-Newark 1, Richard Stockon 0 (1OT)
The fourth-seeded Scarlet Raiders (13-4-4) advance to the semifinal round where they will face three-time defending league champion and top-seeded Montclair State on Sprague Field in Montclair on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Buule collected a loose ball about 40 yards out on the left side and lofted a shot over a diving save attempt by Osprey sophomore goalkeeper Lou Herring which settled in the netting just inside the right post at 91:03.
The Rutgers-Newark bench erupted to celebrate the first NJAC playoff victory in school history as well as a new Raider record for victories in a season.
The Ospreys (12-8-1) got off to an early 8-3 edge in shots, but the Raiders finished the day with a 24-12 advantage in the category. Stockton ruled corner kicks, 7-3. Rutgers-Newark, which had downed the Ospreys, 3-2 in double overtime, during the regular season, outshot Stockton, 15-3, after intermission.
Junior goalkeeper
Matt Zielyk (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) posted his ninth shutout of the season by making three saves. Herring kept the Ospreys in the fray with seven saves on the day.
Rutgers-Newark students with valid I.D. can sign up for a university sponsored bus to the semifinal playoff at The Golden Dome front desk beginning on Monday morning. Student tickets (with valid ID) at the event will be $2!