Box Score

SWARTHMORE, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2016) – One of the things that Rutgers University-Camden Head Coach David Hodgson did to upgrade the women's soccer program was to strengthen the Scarlet Raptors' non-conference schedule at his first opportunity. After being locked into a schedule during his first season in 2015, the second-year coach gave his young Scarlet Raptors a rugged test to open the 2016 campaign.
 
Although the Scarlet Raptors didn't pass that test on the scoreboard, they held their own here Thursday night in a 3-0 loss at nationally-ranked Swarthmore College.
 
Swarthmore, ranked No. 12 in the pre-season National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCA) Division III poll, is coming off the best season in its program history, which included a record-setting 18 wins and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals. Rutgers-Camden, meanwhile, went 6-8-2 during Hodgson's first season last year, its best mark since 2008.
 
Swarthmore scored the only goal it needed 6:06 into the season when a header by senior forward Hannah Lichtenstein (Venice, CA/Harvard-Westlake) went to senior midfielder Caroline Khanna (Chevy Chase, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase). Khanna continued the ball to junior forward Katie Dougherty (La Grange, IL/Lyons Township), who tapped in the only goal of the opening half,
 
Swarthmore took the first 16 shots of the game, adding an insurance goal at 53:37 on a high shot to the back corner by sophomore forward Marin McCoy (Denver, CO/Colorado Academy).
 
Rutgers-Camden got its first opportunity of the season on a wide shot at 57:15 by freshman midfielder Sarah Zuzulock (National Park, NJ/Gateway Regional). The Raptors had another shot 15 minutes later on a wide strike by junior midfielder Kaitlyn Ennis (Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington). A header by junior back Aubrey Andrews (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) was blocked in the 71st minute.
 
Shortly thereafter, Swarthmore freshman forward Brittany Weiderhold (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown STEM Academy) was sprung on a breakaway. She touched the ball past Raptor junior goalkeeper Katie Gurba (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) and finished off her first collegiate goal. That tally came at 72:23 and completed the scoring.
 
Swarthmore finished with a 21-3 advantage in shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
Gurba faced 20 shots in the Rutgers-Camden net, making six saves and also getting help from a backsave. The six saves hiked Gurba's career total over the 100-save milestone, giving her 103.
 
Swarthmore split goalie duties, with sophomore Sydney Hunter (Ellicott City, MD/Mount de Sales Academy) working the first 45 minutes without facing a shot. Sophomore Amy Shmoys (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) finished the game, facing three shots. Neither goalie needed to make a save.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday with a 5 p.m. non-conference game at Widener University. The Scarlet Raptors open their home season Wednesday with a 4 p.m. game against Alvernia University.