Camden, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's soccer team continued their hot start to the season, picking up a 5-0 road conference victory over Rutgers University-Camden Wednesday night. The third-ranked Lions are now 8-0 on the season and improve to 3-0 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. The Scarlet Raptors fall to 0-3 in conference play and 3-6 overall.
 
Christine Levering (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) opened the scoring for the Lions putting in a header off a perfect cross from Kayla Bertolino (Medford, NJ/Shawnee). Bertolino would find the assist column again for the Lions finding Jessica Goldman (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) to give TCNJ a 2-0 lead.
 
With just under three minutes remaining in the first half Alexa Pestritto (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) hit a free kick that was saved. In the ensuing scramble Devon McDonough (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) found Alexa Beatty (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) who put the Lions in front by three going into the half.
 
The Scarlet Raptors defense hung strong throughout most of the second half, but with 16 minutes remaining Hannah Richman (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor) played a left to right cross that found the head of Despina Lianidis (Linwood, NJ/Mainland Regional). Lianidis found the back of the net for the second time this season.
 
Richman would find the back of the net for the fifth time this season hitting a laser that found the top right corner. The senior set a career high with the goal, having previously scored four times in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
 
Kelly Wieczerzak (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Jen McGrogan (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp.), and All DeRiggi (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) all played every minute in front of Nicole DiPasquale (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) who made three saves for her eighth shutout of the season. The Lions are the only team in Division III that has yet to concede a goal this season.
 
TCNJ out-shot the Scarlet Raptors 35-4.
 
The Lions will return home to the soccer complex Saturday at 1:00 PM for a conference game against Rutgers-Newark.