Montclair, NJ … The College of New Jersey men's soccer team battled Montclair State University to a 1-1 draw in a fierce New Jersey Athletic Conference match on Saturday night at Montclair State Soccer Park.
 
The Lions held a 1-0 lead until the final minutes of regulation, but Red Hawk Mike Olla took a feed from Damian Bziukiewicz and tied the game in the 87^th minute. The teams battled through 20 minutes of overtime and the contest finished in a draw.
 
TCNJ and Montclair are both tied for fifth in the standings with 10 points at 3-3-1 in the conference. The top six teams in the NJAC advance to the post-season tournament.
 
Freshman Mateo Panizza (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) scored for the Lions and goalkeeper Dan Walsh (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) finished with five saves.
 
With under two minutes remaining in the opening period, Panizza gave the Lions a 1-0. The goal was his sixth of the season and put TCNJ in the driver's seat at the intermission.
 
Freshman Sam Monaco (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) nearly gave the Lions a two-goal lead early in the second half. He won a header off a restart, but it rattled off the post and back into the field of play.
 
Montclair applied pressure in the final minutes in a late push to net the equalizer. Following a corner kick, Red Hawk Steven Manudio got off a shot that was destined to tie the match, but the Lions' defense blocked the shot from entering the goal to sustain the lead. Olla then tied the match less two minutes later.
 
TCNJ continues its regular season schedule on Wednesday night when they take on Gettysburg College. Their final two home games are at Kean next Saturday and in Lions Stadium on Wednesday, October 26th at 8 p.m.