GLASSBORO, NJ -- You might say the Roadrunner women's soccer team has found their groove. Have they ever!
The Runners, coached by veteran skipper Megan Ruttler, rolled to their second straight victory, a 10-0 triumph over sister school RCSJ Cumberland in Thursday night's Rowan College Derby at Rowan University stadium. The win pushed RCSJ Gloucester to 3-5 on the season, but more importantly set the tone for another upcoming tough stretch of games Ruttler's team will face in the coming two weeks.
"We're picking up the pace and learning our system," said Ruttler, whose club was coming off an upset over previously unbeaten Ocean County earlier in the week. "The players have been attacking more while also sticking to their defensive assignments."
Women's Extended Photo Gallery...
Men's Extended Photo Gallery...
Freshman midfielder Leigh Swietanski opened the scoring with early first half goal for a 1-0 lead -- and the Runners never looked back. The former West Deptford High standout finished with two goals while freshman midfielder Alyssa Meglino (Williamstown) also added two goals. Also contributing scores for the winners were Ave Buonpastore (Highland), Caitlin Schlosser (Clayton), midfielder Seria Rivera (Vineland) and midfielder Dawn Foglein (Clayton).
Goalkeeper Allison Gebhart (Delsea) recorded her first shutout of the season.
The Runners raced to 7-0 halftime advantage to seal the outcome early. The matchup was the first time the two schools played each other in soccer since the merger of the former RCGC and Cumberland County College into Rowan College South Jersey (RCSJ).
Following the contest, Ruttler's team was presented with the South Jersey Shield by Dr. Frederick J. Keating, President of RCSJ.
"This means a lot to our program to get a win here and play in this atmosphere at Rowan University," said Swietanski following the win.
Ditto, said Buonpastore, a former Highland Regional star.
"We're coming together as a team and we feel we're ready for the rest of our schedule," she said.
The Runners kick off a tough schedule of upcoming games when they host Montgomery Rockville (Maryland) this Saturday in a 12 noon start at the Roadrunner field.
Game Preview
The RCSJ men's and women's soccer teams will take on RCSJ Cumberland during the Inaugural Rowan College Derby for the South Jersey Shield, set for tonight, September 26, at Rowan University's Athletic Complex.
The matches mark the first time the two schools have competed against each other on the field since the merger of the former Rowan College at Gloucester County and Cumberland County College into Rowan College South Jersey (RCSJ). The teams programs will also share the opportunity of competing at RU's NCAA Division III complex for the first time this season.
See Game Day information for both the men's and womern's soccer matches below:
WOMEN'S SOCCER GAME DAY INFORMATION
RCSJ-Gloucester vs. RCSJ-Cumberland
September 26, 2019
4 pm
Hosted by:
Rowan University
Coaches:
Megan Ruttler, RCSJ Gloucester
Rob Polk, RCSJ Cumberland
Records:
Roadrunners: 2-5 overall, 2-1 Region
Dukes: 1-4 overall, 1-2 Region
