Box score

Ewing, NJ ... A first-half goal by junior Ray Nelan (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) led The College of New Jersey men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Rutgers University-Newark at Lions' Stadium.

Playing the final event on Homecoming Day, the Lions (4-5-1, 3-1 NJAC) sent the crowd home happy as they notched their second straight win this week.

TCNJ won nearly every ball out of the air making it difficult for the Red Raiders to sustain an offensive attack. Senior Phillip Cunha (Milford, NJ/Immaculata) and sophomore Vince McEnroe (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) spearheaded a great defensive effort as goalkeeper Adam Friedman (Chester, N J/West Morris Mendham) recorded his first shutout of the season.

The Lions got on the board early when junior Luigi Moriello (Ewing, NJ/Notre Dame) collected a ball 40 yards out and led Nelan with a pass between two defenders. Nelan took the ball inside the box, dribbled around goalkeeper Jonathan Frances (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton) and lined the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the season, giving his team a 1-0 lead at the 17:38 mark.

TCNJ had another good scoring chance 10 minutes later when Cunha made a run out of the back down the left side and slotted a pass to Nelan. The junior midfield got a shot off quickly, but Frances made a point-blank stop to keep it a one-goal game.

The Scarlet Raiders (6-4-1, 0-3-1 NJAC) had their best scoring opportunity in the opening minutes of the game when senior Innocent Buule (West New York, NJ/Memorial) got free inside the box. But his shot slipped just past the far post.

Nelan had one of his best games of the season creating several scoring chances in the offensive third for the Lions. Sophomore Taylor Gregory (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) nearly made it two-goal lead in the 54th minute when he flicked a pass from Nelan in front, but Frances made a leaping grab to thwart the effort. Frances had a standout performance in net finishing with six saves on the night.

TCNJ had a number of opportunities in the second half to provide some cushion, but couldn't capitalize. The defense held strong in the final ten minutes of pressure to secure the Lions third conference win in four games.

Despite several dangerous players in their offensive mix, Rutgers-Newark was shut out for the fourth consecutive match. The Scarlet Raiders opened the season with 27 goals in their first seven contests.

The Lions return to the turf on Tuesday, October 5 to play their make-up match against Richard Stockton College at 7:30 p.m. Rutgers University-Newark visits Mt. Saint Mary College on Monday at 7 p.m.