Wayne, NJ …..A huge play by its special teams in the waning seconds helped The College of New Jersey pick up its second straight win as the Lions slipped past William Paterson University 20-17 on Saturday.
 
Holding on to a 20-17 lead late in the fourth quarter, the host Pioneers marched deep into Lion territory as the clock was winding down. Faced with a 4^th-and-goal from the TCNJ nine, William Paterson lined up for a short field goal with nine seconds remaining. Sophomore Troy Domenick (Marlton, Cherokee) then blocked the kick to thwart WPU's bid to tie the game and Lions then took a knee on the final play to seal the victory.
 
The win TCNJ at 2-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and 2-5 overall, while William Paterson fell to 2-6 overall and 1-6 against league opponents.
 
The Lions went to the air to get on the scoreboard first as junior Michael Marchesano (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) tossed a 20-yard strike to sophomore Chase Vena (Tabernacle, NJ/Seneca). That was Vena's first career touchdown and came with 3:56 left in the second quarter.
 
A late field goal by the Pioneers made it a 6-3 Lion lead at the half.
 
The hosts then went in front midway through the third quarter, but TCNJ erased that deficit with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Khani Glover (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) scored the first of those on a four-yard run on the second play of the period.
 
The second came just over five minute later when senior Victor Scalici (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) found paydirt from seven yards out to make it a 20-10 lead. Scalici had a big day on the ground for the Lions as he finished with a season-high 134 yards on 25 carries.
 
Kicker Brian Nagy (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) booted the PAT after each of those touchdowns.
 
William Paterson made it a one-score game with 5:25 left on a 67-yard run by Anthony DiMarsico and then got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining, setting up the exciting finish for the Lions.
 
In addition to his big blocked field goal, Domenick also had two interceptions and four tackles. Freshman Eddie Ashley (Trenton, NJ/Steinert) led TCNJ with seven tackles.
 
The Lions return to Ewing next weekend for the team's home finale as they host Southern Virginia University at noon.