NEWARK, N.J. – In the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener, The 4th ranked College of New Jersey women's soccer team defeated Rutgers-Newark by a final score of 4-2. With the win the Lions improve to 3-1 and 1-0 in the conference while the Scarlet Raiders drop to 3-2-1 and 0-1 in the NJAC.

In the early minutes the Lions came out firing and rattled off shots at the Scarlet Raider keeper. In the 18^th minute they broke through. Julia Obst sent a cross in from the left side that found the head of Randi Smith. Smith was able to direct the ball to Julianna Bertolino who was about 10 yards out, and Bertolino slipped it in the lower left corner to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

The Lions offense struck again in the 36th minute. Nikki Butler scored her first collegiate goal, as she controlled the ball at the top of the box and shot it in the upper right corner to put the Lions up 2-0.

After the half the Lions continued to control the pace of the game. Butler struck again in the 68^th minute, as she scored from in close off of a feed from Lauren McLaughlin to make it 3-1. The insurance goal came from Smith in the 81^st minute. Smith net her first goal as a Lion, as she was battling a pair of defenders and shot one into the upper left corner to seal the deal. Amelia Curtis was credited with the assist.

The Lions held a sizable 31-4 advantage in shots, as well as an 11-0 edge in corner kicks.

The Lions return to action on Wednesday Sept. 19 when they will welcome FDU-Florham to Lions Stadium for a 7:30 kickoff.