Camden, NJ –Stockton University (10-5-3, 3-4-2 NJAC) was downed by Rutgers Camden Scarlet Raptors (13-5-2, 5-2-2 NJAC) by a 1-0 score, in double overtime, in the last regular season match for both squads.
 
Even with the defeat, Stockton clinches an NJAC playoff berth for this season. It will be Stockton's fourth trip to the NJAC Tournament in the five-year tenure of head coach Greg Ruttler.
 
The first half was tightly contested by both squads. The Raptors held a slim 8-6 margin in shots but were able to put four attempts on net, but to no avail. Stockton's only shot on goal came from Jon Schwab (Scotch Palins/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) at the 18:23 mark, as the teams played to a scoreless first half.
 
Both squads clamped down on defense in the second frame, not allowing a shot until Christian Bik (Vineland/St. Augustine Prep) fired a shot that was kicked away in the 67th minute. The home team finally got a shot off at 71:26 but it missed the mark wide.
 
In the 77th minute, Ryan Cheslock (Toms River/Toms River North) had a header sail high off a corner kick from Ervin Gjeli (Hasbrouck Hts./Hasbrouck Hts.). The Ospreys continued to keep the pressure on when James McCombs (Brick/Brick Memorial) fired a header that was saved, and the game remained scoreless at the 83:56 mark.
 
Rutgers Camden was able to squeeze one more shot off late in the contest, but the attempt was blocked, and the teams headed to overtime.
 
The Scarlet Raptors almost ended the match 2:30 into the extra frame when Cristian Ognibene hit the post, keeping the deadlock intact. The home squad kept up the pressure, firing a shot on net two minutes later, that Stockton goalkeeper Dino Gromitsaris (Bordentown/Bordentown) kept out of the net.
 
One last Raptors attempt with 43 seconds left sailed wide and the teams went to a second overtime period. Walter Barreto fired an attempt for Camden just 47 seconds in that Gromitsaris kicked out as the Raptors continued to pepper the Stockton defense.
 
It finally paid off two minutes later when after a re-start, Enrique Sanchez fired a shot off the post, and into the net giving Rutgers-Camden the 1-0 victory.
 
Gromitsaris made six saves in the match. His counterpart Kieran Burns kicked out three shots for Rutgers Camden.
 
Stockton will be the number six seed for the NJAC Tournament. The Ospreys will have a rematch in the first round against Rutgers Camden, the number three seed, in Camden on Saturday. Game time is set for 1 pm.