UNION, N.J. (9/24/11) – Rutgers-Camden sophomore Mitch Grotti had a hat trick to lead the Scarlet Raptors to a 3-1 win over host Kean University in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
The Scarlet Raptors (8-2, 3-0 NJAC) took a 3-0 lead early in the second half and held off a Cougar offense late in the game, as Kean (5-2-2, 2-1 NJAC) held a 14-4 edge in shots in the second half.
Grotti gave Rutgers-Camden a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute, scoring on the penalty kick following a handball in the box. The forward then extended the lead to 2-0 in the 38th minute, as he took the ball away from the Cougars and went in for a breakaway.
Early in the second half, freshman midfielder Eric Cutry slipped a ball through the Cougar defense that Grotti took in for the 3-0 advantage in the 48th minute.
Kean trimmed the lead to 3-1 when the hard shot from freshman Erickson Simeon (pictured left) deflected off the keeper's hands and the Scarlet Raptor defense was unable to clear the ball as it was about to cross the goal line.
The Cougars outshot Rutgers-Camden, 21-9, for the game and held a 10-1 edge in corner kicks.
Rutgers-Camden goalkeeper Tim VanLiew made eight saves, while Kean goalies Brian Haines and Tyler Callahan combined to make three saves.
The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, September 28, when they travel to New Jersey City University for an NJAC game at 4 p.m.
