Box score

Ewing, NJ ... The College of New Jersey men's soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Kean University 1-0 in the second overtime of play in the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship match.

Sophomore Abner Denis (Curitiba, Brazil/Gudo Straube) scored the game-winner at the 102:25 mark to claim the conference title and earn an automatic into the 2010 Division III NCAA tournament. It is the first NJAC championship for the Cougars since 1998 and first NCAA tournament appearance since receiving an at-large bid in 2001.

The loss ended a 10-game unbeaten streak for the top-seeded Lions (9-6-4) as they played well enough to win, but were unable to find the back of the net in a well-played championship match.

Kean, who defeated the top three seeded teams during their run through the tournament, capitalized on its best scoring chance of the game. Sophomore Guilherme Argollo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Escola Americana) sent a long pass from the back up to sophomore Tiago Goetzke (Curitiba, Brazil/Dimensao). Goetzke took the ball in on TCNJ goalkeeper Adam Friedman (Chester, NJ/West Morris Mendham) but was forced to the outside. He maintained control, turned, and pushed a pass to Denis running on. Denis hit a first-time shot from 12 yards out to end the game.

The Lions dominated the majority of play in the opening half, outshooting the Cougars 8-1. TCNJ had its best scoring chance with less than two minutes left in the half. Sophomore Vince McEnroe (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) sent a restart into the box. The ball popped out towards the top of the box where senior Mike Razzoli (Parlin, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) ripped a shot that was partially blocked, and then saved by freshman keeper Tyler Callahan (Landsville, NJ/Buena Regional).

Kean's lone shot on goal in the opening period came from junior Kahree Winslow (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway), who had a clean shot at an empty net, but ripped a shot just wide of the right post.

Both teams traded punches in the second half, but neither team was able to get on the board. Junior Dan Constants (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) entered the game for TCNJ and had a quality scoring chance moments later, but he pushed his shot just to the right of the post.

The Lions had their best shot at winning the game in the first overtime when sophomore Ryan O'Donnell (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) headed a shot off a cross, but Callahan was in position to make the save and keep the game scoreless.

TCNJ outshot Kean 17-6 in the game. Callahan had four saves for the Cougars, while Friedman had one save for the Lions.

The NCAA tournament field will be announced on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.