CAMDEN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Three-time All-New Jersey Athletic Conference goalkeeper Brittany Hoffman (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) surpassed the 500-save threshold for her career and her nine stops, including a penalty kick save, kept the New Jersey City University women's soccer team in the game. However, Rutgers University-Camden, which outshot the Gothic Knights 27-2, was able to beat Hoffman once in the 20^th minute and held on for a 1-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference win on September 27 at Rutgers-Camden Community Park.
 
Camden (4-5-1, 1-1-0 NJAC) won its second straight game while sending the Gothic Knights to 3-3-2 (0-2-0 NJAC). NJCU was shutout for the third time this season. The Raptors posted their fifth shutout of the season and second in a row.
 
Hoffman made seven saves in the first half—the final at the 35:39 proving to be her milestone 500^th stop—a block of a shot by Camden's lone goal scorer, Catherine Fiore. She made three more stops in the second have to finish the day with 503 saves.
 For the second consecutive game, included in her save total was a 62^nd minute penalty kick save as she smothered an attempt by Camden's Kelly Barbone, diving towards the right post. It was relief for the Knights because the penalty kick was awarded after Hoffman was whistled for a foul on an aggressive play in the box after colliding with Camden's Rachel Sindoni. It was the third consecutive penalty kick she has stopped and the fourth of her career.
 
The Raptors' lone goal came at the 19:07 mark as Fiore netted her fourth of the season. After Rebecca Gougher threaded a perfect pass through the Gothic Knight defense, Fiore ran onto the lead pass and slipped a shot into the left side of the net.
 
After Hoffman's 500^th save the Raptors had two chances to add to the lead on the rebound but Angela Martorano's first attempt was kept out of the net with a team save by the NJCU defense and the subsequent rebound was wide.
 
Hoffman kept NJCU alive throughout the day, batting several near goals over the crossbar. Ashley Silva's shot in the 84^th minute did glance off the crossbar.
 
Camden rookie goalie Katie Gurba made two saves to collect her first shutout of the season. Both of NJCU's shots came on long restarts.
 
QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Michael Vivino (second season):
"Brit was amazing again. From the second we saw her in warmups, we knew she was going to be at her best. Unfortunately we couldn't do anything on the offensive side of the ball to help. That's the most frustrating part for the coaching staff."
 
Senior goalkeeper Brittany Hoffman on her second penalty kick stop:
"The shooter went to my left. However, unlike the last game [Sage], she was very obvious about it, opening her body in that direction. It was well hit to the lower corner, but I was able to deflect it out of bounds."
 
OF NOTE:

• Rutgers-Camden leads the all-time series, 12-3.
• Hoffman is 2-for-2 in penalty kicks this year and has now stopped her last three penalties. In her career she has stopped four of eight penalty kicks against her.
• For the second consecutive game, all of NJCU's shots were on goal.
• RU-Camden's 10 corner kicks were an opponent season high.
• Rutgers-Camden, which played eight of its first nine games on the road, was playing only its second home contest.
• The game was played on a hot late September day on the Camden's field turf.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Gothic Knights host Kean University on Wednesday, October 1 (3 p.m.) at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field. NJCU is 1-1 at home this year. Kean, the 2013 ECAC Division III Metro Tournament champion, is currently ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Women's South Atlantic Poll No. 4 (September 23, 2014).