ROCKY MOUNT, NC – Sophomore midfielder
Brian Barrera netted the game-winning goal in the 108th minute as Rutgers-Newark outlasted Randolph College, 2-1, in the Roger Taylor Fall Classic.
BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
Barrera scored off of a cross from the right side by junior midfielder
Estiven Benitez to complete the come-from-behind victory which earned the Scarlet Raiders a third-place finish in the tournament hosted by North Carolina Wesleyan.
The Wildcats (1-2) clung to an early lead until senior forward
Innocent Buule rifled a shot past Randolph goalkeeper Aaron Humphreys out of scramble in front of the goal in the 80th minute.
Randolph got its goal with just 9:48 gone in the contest from freshman forward Corey Sindle on a crossing pass from junior midfielder Timmy Songer.
The opening period was close with the Raiders gaining a slim 7-5 advantage in shots and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. But, Rutgers-Newark dominated play in the second half, outshooting the Wildcats, 10-2, while taking five corner kicks to just one by the squad from Virginia.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Jonathan Frances came up with two of his three saves in the first overtime period as the teams battled evenly in the extra periods.
Sindle took the first two shots of the second extra period, getting the first one blocked while the second one sailed wide off the rebound in the 102nd minute. Raider head coach
Kevin East reinserted Barrera into the fray seconds later.
Junior forward
Richie Villamar forced Wildcat backup goalkeeper Ryan Woloshin to make a save in the 104th minute before Barrera and Benitez conspired to end the contest.
It was the first goal in Scarlet & Black for Barrera, a transfer from Union County College, while Buule’s third tally of the season moved him into a fifth place tie in career goals with
Jeff Vazquez (2008-2009) with 19.
Rutgers-Newark (2-1) host Purchase College at 7 p.m. on Alumni Field on Thursday before hosting the Scarlet Raider Soccer Classic on Saturday and Sunday.