Newark, NJ: Junior midfielder Liana Abreu (Newark, NJ) tallied three unassisted goals as Rutgers-Newark downed Ramapo, 5-3, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match on Alumni Field.
Junior goalkeeper Danielle Griscom (Pennsville, NJ), who got her first official career start in place injured junior Kat Renteria (North Bergen, NJ), made two saves to get her first career victory behind a defense which allowed the Raiders a 24-14 edge in shots.
All three of Abreu's goals came after she took control of loose balls on the offensive end. She netted the matches' opening tally in the 23rd minute from the right side, gave the Raiders a 3-1 edge in the 56th minute by hammering in a shot from 20 yards out on the right side, and completed her third career hat trick by picking off a pass on the right side and sending a shot across the goal with just 26 seconds left.
Roadrunner senior forward
Melissa Demko (East Brunswick, NJ) ran onto a cross into the middle of the box by junior
Melanie Pupo (Newton, NJ) in the 34th minute to level the score, and the teams went to the break at 1-1.
Rutgers-Newark senior midfielder Angela Neves (Hillside, NJ) bounced a shot over Ramapo goalkeeper junior
Alyssa Krall (Toms River, NJ) just 2:08 into the second half to give the Raiders the lead for good.
Roadrunner freshman forward
Katie Popowych (Aberdeen, NJ) one timed a shot into the right side of the net following a mad scramble in front of the goal to trim the deficit to 3-2.
Raider senior forward Karen Johnson (Nutley, NJ) picked up a loose ball and fired a shot inside the right post in the 75th minute before Ramapo freshman defender
Susan Hayes (Wayne, NJ) netted a penalty kick at 78:03 to once again make it a one-goal game. That goal made Johnson's tally the game winner.
Krall (2-5-0) made six saves while yielding four goals before giving way to freshman
Talia Auslin (Fair Lawn, NJ) who gave up the final goal while logging the final 14:23.
Rutgers-Newark (4-3-1, NJAC 1-0-1) visits Montclair State on Wednesday while Ramapo hosts William Paterson. Both matches start at 4 p.m.