After their scheduled game against The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) was postponed due to rain, the Ramapo women’s soccer team took to the field against Rutgers-University Camden (RUC) on Wednesday afternoon for the first time in a week, falling 1-0.
In their first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup of the season, the Roadrunners fell on their own turf to the Scarlet Raptors. The loss moved Ramapo to 2-5 on the season, while RUC improved to 5-4-1.
In the first half of action, both teams were held scoreless as goalkeepers Makenna Tahbaz (Ramapo) and Kayla McKeever (RUC) kept their opponents out of the net. In the first 45 minutes, Tahbaz recorded three saves while facing seven total shots, while McKeever registered two saves against five total shots.
Seven minutes into the second half, RUC’s Amy Maurer would score the first and only goal of the game for either side, unassisted. For Maurer, it was her third goal of the season, and proved to be the deciding factor in a pivotal NJAC matchup.
Tahbaz would collect another four saves in the second half, giving her seven total on the day. McKeever only needed to register another two saves in the second half, as the Scarlet Raptors defense kept the Roadrunners out of their zone for a majority of the final 30 minutes. In total, RUC outshot Ramapo 14-11, and 8-4 on goal.
Despite the loss, Tahbaz’s performance lowered her goals allowed average to 2.81 on the season and brought her save total to 22 — good for seventh best in the NJAC. Graduate forward Carla Goodwin led the team with three shot attempts, one of which was on goal, and she is currently averaging the most shots on goal per game out of anyone in the NJAC division.
Wednesday’s game marked the first in a string of nine consecutive NJAC matchups the Roadrunners have scheduled to finish the season. Ramapo has ground to make up in the standings, and will have plenty of opportunity to do so before the season comes to a close. The Roadrunners currently sit in last place, but also have the fewest games played in the conference.
In the upcoming week, Ramapo will visit No. 11 Montclair State on Saturday morning, and head to Ewing to make up for their postponed game against TCNJ on Wednesday, with the time still to be determined. If the Roadrunners have plans of extending their season beyond its scheduled conclusion, they’ll have to take advantage of these two NJAC matchups.
Both games will be available to be livestreamed on the Ramapo Athletics website.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy Ramapo Athletics
