RAPTOR OF THE WEEK
Joelle Diener (Rickenbach, Switzerland/Kantonsschule, Olten)

Junior Joelle Diener earns Raptor of the Week honors for the second time this fall after pacing the cross country team at the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional in Canton, New York, Nov. 13. Diener finished 77th out of 201 female runners with her career-best 6K time of 24:37.2. Diener also earned Raptor of the Week honors October 4.

CROSS COUNTRY
Nov. 13 at NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships (Canton, NY)

MEN (8K): 1. The College of New Jersey, 67; 2. SUNY-Geneseo, 84; 3. New York University, 97; 4. SUNY-Cortland, 107; 5. SUNY-Brockport, 157; 6. St. Lawrence University, 238; 7. University of Rochester, 243; 8. Ithaca College, 267; 9. SUNY-Plattsburgh, 268; 10. Rochester Institute of Technology, 285; 11. Vassar College, 296; 12. Rowan University, 330; 13. Clarkson University, 363;14. Alfred University, 385; 15. Hamilton College, 460; 16. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 508; 17. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 536; 18. SUNY-Oswego, 537; 19. SUNY-Oneonta, 541; 20. Fredonia State University, 556; 21. Kean University, 561; 22. Nazareth College, 634; 23. Buffalo State College, 641; 24. Richard Stockton College, 663; 25. Hartwick College, 713; 26. Union College, 811; 27. SUNY-New Paltz, 821; 28. Stevens Institute of Technology, 826; 29. SUNY-Potsdam, 848; 30. Hunter College, 854; 31. Hobart College, 900; 32. SUNY-Maritime College, 953; 33. Rutgers University-Camden, 1047.

Leading runner: Ted Turner (SUNY-Geneseo), 24:52.5
Leading Rutgers-Camden runner: Chris McGowan, 29:40.2.

WOMEN (6K): 1. SUNY-Geneseo, 41; 2. Ithaca College, 64; 3. St. Lawrence University, 73; 4. The College of New Jersey, 80; 5. Fredonia State University, 205; 6. Clarkson University, 213; 7. SUNY-Brockport, 228; 8. Rochester Institute of Technology, 269; 9. University of Rochester, 272; 10. Hamilton College, 287; 11. SUNY-Plattsburgh, 364; 12. New York University, 368; 13. Rowan University, 385; 14. Vassar College, 413; 15. SUNY-Oneonta, 458; 16. Alfred University, 478; 17. SUNY-Cortland, 482; 18. SUNY-New Paltz, 483; 19. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 495; 20. Nazareth College, 557; 21. SUNY-Potsdam, 609; 22. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 658; 23. Union College, 660; 24. Richard Stockton College, 704; 25. Rutgers University-Camden, 744; 26. Cazenovia College, 763.

Leading runner: Amy Ruston (Lehman College), 22:37.9
Leading Rutgers-Camden runner: Joelle Diener, 24:37.2

Juniors Joelle Diener (Rickenbach, Switzerland/Kantonsschule, Olten) and Chris McGowan (Barrington, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) paced the women and men, respectively, as Rutgers-Camden closed its season at the 2004 NCAA Division III Atlantic Cross Country Regional Nov. 13. The meet was held at the Ronald C. Hoffmann Cross Country Course at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

Diener ran the 6K course in 24:37.2 to finish 77th out of 201 females. It was the best 6K time of her career, edging the 24:37.5 clocking she posted at the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships Oct. 30. The women’s race was won by Amy Ruston of Lehman College in a course-record time of 22:37.9, breaking the mark of 22:46 set by Renee Catalano of SUNY-Geneseo in 2004.

The men’s race, which featured 226 runners, also produced a course record of 24:52.5 by winner Ted Turner of SUNY-Geneseo, who toppled the old mark of 25:25 by Matt Migonis of St. Lawrence University in 2002. McGowan finished 182nd in a time of 29:40.2.

Diener and McGowan finished first for the Scarlet Raptors in all eight meets this season.

The Lady Raptors posted a team score of 744 to finish 25th out of 26 teams in a race won by SUNY-Geneseo (41). The Rutgers-Camden men’s team finished last of 33 teams with a 1,047 score. The College of New Jersey (67) won the men’s race.

For the Lady Raptors, senior captain Sarah Roberts (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) completed her Rutgers-Camden cross country career by finishing second on the team and 182nd overall (27:49.0).

Sophomores Rachel McCormick (Blue Anchor, NJ/Winslow Township) and Erin Rajauski (Haddon Heights, NJ/Camden Catholic) were 185th and 189th, respectively, in times of 28:16.7 and 28:45.6. Junior Jackie Tursi (Sewell, NJ/Clearview Regional) finished 191st overall (28:58.1).

Finishing second for the Raptor men was freshman Stefon Coleman (Penns Grove, NJ/Penns Grove), who was 214th overall in a time of 37:58.7. He was followed in order by senior Matthew Weng (Lakehurst, NJ/Shawnee), freshman Steven Sooy (Millville, NJ/Millville) and junior Andrew Silipino (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton). Weng finished 223rd (36:16.9), Sooy was 225th (39:32.7) and Silipino was 226th (45:04.5).

MEN'S SOCCER

The Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer team is reaping its rewards after posting the best season in the program’s history.

Scarlet Raptors head coach Greg Ogden was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year and six of his players earned recognition on the post-season all-conference teams announced Nov. 12.

Rutgers-Camden players named to the All-NJAC First Team were freshman midfielder Pat Baldiserra (Milmay, NJ/Buena Regional), sophomore midfielder Mike Reed (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) and sophomore goalkeeper David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern).

Named to the All-NJAC Second Team was junior forward Kevin Ridgway (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson). Earning All-NJAC Honorable Mention were junior midfielder Devin Burgin (Pennsauken, NJ/Bishop Eustace) and sophomore back Shawn Cunning (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood).

Ogden was honored as the NJAC’s top coach after leading the Scarlet Raptors to a 15-2-4 record, breaking the previous school mark for wins set by the 14-6-4 team from 1981. The Raptors opened the campaign with a school-record 17-game undefeated streak (13-0-4), earned Ogden’s 50th win with the men’s program (a 1-0 win over Kean Oct. 16), peaked at No. 20 in the country (Oct. 19), and reached the NJAC playoff semifinals before dropping a 1-0 decision to eventual champion Richard Stockton College.

In five years with the Rutgers-Camden men, Ogden owns a 53-34-13 record. He also started the women’s soccer program at Rutgers-Camden and coached it during the 1998 and 1999 seasons, compiling a 15-8-1 record and giving him a 68-42-14 overall collegiate coaching record.

The Raptors played nine games this year against teams who were ranked in the national Top 25 at least once during the season – Stockton (which has peaked at No. 22), Arcadia (23), Rowan (22 during the season, No. 7 in pre-season), Elizabethtown (25), Montclair State (19), Kean (25) and The College of New Jersey (15). Rutgers-Camden went a combined 4-2-3 against that group.

Ridgway led the Scarlet Raptors in scoring with seven goals and four assists for 18 points. He had a pair of game-winning goals and was named NJAC Offensive Player of the Week Nov. 1.

Baldiserra, Reed and Burgin helped the Scarlet Raptors field one of the top midfields in the NJAC. Burgin finished second on the team in scoring with 17 points (seven goals, three assists) and led the Raptors with four game-winning goals. He went 3-for-4 in converting penalty kicks.

Baldiserra (4-5-13) and Reed (4-3-11) also contributed to the Scarlet Raptors’ offense, and Baldiserra earned NJAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 20.

Cunningham, who recorded an 8-2-4 record, three shutouts, 78 saves and a 0.74 goals-against average as the Raptors’ top keeper, routinely made outstanding saves during the season. He won two honors as the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 6 and Oct. 4) and helped the team post a program record for the best team goals-against average. Rutgers-Camden notched a 0.64 team GAA, breaking the mark of 0.90 set in 2001. The Raptors also posted 11 team shutouts, second only to the program-record 12 in 1981.

Cunning, one of the team’s two center backs, was a key cog in the Raptors’ outstanding defense and was one of six Raptors recognized as the school’s Raptor of the Week this fall (Nov. 1). That group included Cunningham (Oct. 11) and Baldiserra (Sept. 13).

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Rutgers University-Camden senior forward Heather Greenwald (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford), senior midfielder Rachel Greenwald (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) and sophomore back Katie O’Connor (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) earned All-New Jersey Athletic Conference Honorable Mention status, it was announced Nov. 11.

The Lady Raptor trio captured those honors following a season in which Rutgers-Camden reached the NJAC playoffs for the second consecutive season and finished with a 12-6-2 record.

For the Greenwald sisters, the NJAC honor was the third of their record-setting careers. Rachel Greenwald earned Second Team All-NJAC in 2003 and Honorable Mention All-NJAC in 2002. Heather was Honorable Mention All-NJAC last season and Second Team All-NJAC as a freshman in 2001.

Both Greenwalds also were named to the Academic All-District II squads Nov. 4. Heather, a dual Psychology/Elementary Education major, earned First Team status, allowing her to move onto the national ballot for 2004 Academic All-American honors. Rachel, a Criminal Justice major, was named to the Third Team.

Heather Greenwald also was named NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mention as a junior.

Heather Greenwald, who started in all 20 games and led the team with 16 goals and 44 points this season, also tied for the club lead with 12 assists and four game-winning goals. Her 16 goals and 44 points established single-season program records, and she finished her career with program marks for goals (46), game-winning goals (13) and points (121).

She was named the Offensive MVP at the Fourth Annual Pepsi-Cola Kick-Off Classic at Marywood University (Sept. 4-5, 2004) and became the first Lady Raptor to reach the 100-point plateau for a career. She was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 6, 2004) and earned the school’s Raptor of the Week honor the same day.

Heather Greenwald, who set the single-season program record with five game-winning goals in 2003, is a four-year letterwinner who played in 68 games during her Rutgers-Camden career (third on the school’s career list).

As a junior, Heather earned NJAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Sept. 29, 2003. As a freshman, she was named to the All-Scarlet Raptors Tournament Team (Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2001) and captured a pair of NJAC Rookie of the Week honors (Sept. 10 and Sept. 24). She also owns one of the six hat tricks in program history, scoring three goals against Keystone College Oct. 11, 2003.

Rachel Greenwald, a transfer from Drexel University, completed her three-year Lady Raptor career as Rutgers-Camden’s all-time assist leader (36). She notched nine goals, 10 assists and 28 points this season to finish fourth on the career scoring chart with 78 points.

Named team MVP as a sophomore and a junior, Rachel holds the single-season school mark of 14 assists (set in 2003) and was named to the Pepsi-Cola Kick-Off Classic all-tournament team Sept. 4-5, 2004.

Rachel Greenwald earned NJAC Offensive Player of the Week honors Oct. 27, 2003, Co-Raptor of the Week honors twice (Nov. 3, 2003 and Sept. 2, 2002) and Raptor of the Week on another occasion (Sept. 9, 2002).

Heather and Rachel are daughters of Tim and Theresa Greenwald of West Deptford.

O’Connor, who helped the Lady Raptors open the season with a school-record five straight shutouts, anchored a defense which posted eight shutouts overall. She was named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 13 and ECAC Metro Player of the Week the next day. She was the school’s Raptor of the Week as a freshman (Oct. 15, 2003).

O’Connor started all 20 games this season, adding three goals and one assist for seven points. She has played in 39 games, collecting three goals, three assists and nine points for her career.

A History major at Rutgers-Camden, Katie is the daughter of Mike and Cathy O’Connor of Sewell.

VOLLEYBALL

Rutgers-Camden outside hitter Julie Grochowski (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) capped her outstanding freshman season by earning All-Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team honors it was announced Nov. 9.

Grochowski, who set numerous program records in her maiden collegiate season for the 2-24 Lady Raptors, becomes only the second player in the five-year history of the Rutgers-Camden volleyball program to earn First Team post-season honors. Tanesha Williams earned All-WIAC First Team honors in 2001.

Grochowski earned plenty of respect, earning WIAC Rookie of the Week honors Nov. 1 and winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honor three times: Sept. 20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25.

She also was named to the all-tournament team at the Gothic Knight Women’s Volleyball Invitational, which was held Oct. 16 at New Jersey City University.

Grochowski ended her sterling freshman season with school records for matches played (26), games played (89), kills (274), total attacks (1,120) and digs (375). She also added 52 service aces to tie sophomore teammate Katherine Maikoksoong (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) for another single-season school record.

A Chemistry major at Rutgers-Camden, Julie is the daughter of Dorry and Rich Grochowski of Williamstown.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Dr. Keeppinger Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Classic (at Alvernia College, Reading, PA)

Fri., Nov. 19 John Carroll vs. Hood College 6 p.m.
Rutgers-Camden vs. Alvernia 8 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 20 Consolation 1 p.m.
Championship 3 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 23 Richard Stockton College 8 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 1 Rowan University 8 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 4 at Ramapo College 3 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Messiah College Tournament (at Messiah College, Grantham, PA)

Fri., Nov. 19 Rutgers-Camden vs. Houghton 5:45 p.m.
Wilkes vs. Messiah 8 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 20 Consolation 1 p.m.
Championship 3 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 23 Richard Stockton College 6 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 29 at Montclair State University 7 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 1 Rowan University 6 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 4 at Ramapo College 1 p.m.