Box Score CAMDEN, N.J. – The No. 10 Franklin & Marshall's men's soccer team opened up its 2014 season by handing No. 2 Rutgers-Camden its first regular season loss in nearly two years with a 1-0 shutout on Friday afternoon in non-conference action.
The win marked the fourth consecutive year the Diplomats (1-0) have opened their season with a victory, while the Scarlet Raptors (0-1) entered the contest as winners of 28 straight regular season games, dating back to Sept. 29, 2012.
Both teams traded opportunites in the first half of the opening stanza before Jared Bomba went one-on-one with his defender on the right side of the field, winning the battle and sliding a cross into Max Watson who buried the shot, to hand F&M a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.
The Diplomats dominated the opening half, outshooting the Raptors by an 11-4 tally and holding Rutgers-Camden without a shot on goal in the frame. F&M's defense continued its stellar play in front of goalkeeper Trevor Britton (1-0) in the second half, allowing only one shot to reach the net.
One last opportunity for the Raptors came in the 85th minute, however a missed connection off a cross slammed off the far right post, allowing the Diplomats to hold on for the win.
Britton (1-0) was solid in net, earning the first shutout of his career as F&M took down the highest-ranked team in head coach Dan Wagner's tenure. The junior keeper registered one save on the game, while his counterpart Eric Bumbera (0-1) was dealt the loss. The Diplomats' offense outshot its opponent by a 16-6 margin, while leading on corners at 4-3.
F&M faces another tough test tomorrow when the Diplomats return to action to face No. 11 York at 7:00 p.m. for its first home game of the season at Tylus Field.
