Box Score

Ewing, NJ … Kevin Luber (Delran, NJ/Delran) sent his official calling card for the 2009 season as the senior forward registered a hat trick and an assist as The College of New Jersey men's soccer team defeated Rutgers University-Camden 4-2.

Luber scored twice in the first half, assisted on a restart on the game-winning goal, and polished off the victory with a 25-yard blast with 6:06 remaining to give the Lions (4-3-3, 2-1-1 NJAC) a much-need New Jersey Athletic Conference triumph. Sophomore Anthony DiPalmo (Somerdale, NJ/Triton Regional) headed home the game-winner at the 50:03 mark giving TCNJ their third and final lead of the night.

Luber notched his first goal just 6:28 into the game when senior Adam Dorflinger (Seargentsville, NJ/Hunterdon Central) floated a long cross into the box. Luber pushed it past Scarlet Raptor goalkeeper Tim VanLiew (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) to give the Lions an early 1-0 advantage.

Rutgers-Camden responded just over 10 minutes later when sophomore Todd Kleinstuber (Washington, NJ/Washington Twp) took a pass from Jake Vollman (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) and knocked it between the posts to tie the game.

Senior Anthony Staropoli (Raritan/NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) sent another long, aerial pass that flicked off the head of Ed Kozic (Raritan,NJ/Immaculata). A Scarlet Raptor defender lost possession and Luber slipped behind the defense to tap in his second goal of the night. Less than five minutes later, Shane McGrory (Laurel Springs, NJ/Sterling) dribbled the ball down the left side, cut inside the 18-yard-line and slotted a low shot inside the left post to make it a 2-2 game at the intermission.

TCNJ came out strong in the second half, and after a Rutgers-Camden defender committed a foul just outside the box on the left side, Luber lofted a direct kick that was perfectly timed by DiPalmo who headed it into the back of the net. The Lions would never relinquish the lead and didn't allow a shot for the first 30:49 of the second half.

Freshman goalkeeper Adam Friedman (Chester, NJ/West Morris Mendham) made a key save off of blast from C.J. Finley (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) to keep the score 3-2. Friedman needed just a pair of saves to record his second win of the season.

Luber's third goal of the game (and fourth of the season) came off of a half-volley, as he blasted a left-footed shot past a stunned Scarlet Raptor netminder. The goal sealed the victory as the Lions refused to allow another late-game goal to spoil their night.

TCNJ returns to action this weekend when they host top-ranked Division III team in country. Messiah College (8-0) will visit Lions' Stadium Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Rutgers-Camden travels to Stevenson University on Saturday, October 3 for a 1 p.m. start.