Ewing, NJ … In a thrilling match on Sunday afternoon, The College of New Jersey men's soccer team lost a heart-breaker to Whitworth University, 4-3.
 
The Lions (2-3) battled back from a 3-0 second half deficit to tie the 3-3 with a three goals in just under three minutes. But Pirate midfielder Jonah Snyder knocked in the game-winner with 14 seconds remaining to capture the 4-3 win for Whitworth.
 
In a fast-paced contest that saw the Pirates jump out to a 2-0 in the opening 15 minutes. Junior Austin Cassity and senior Alfredo Omelas each converted chances. The Lions had several great opportunities, but failed to capitalize in the opening period.
 
Snyder appeared to put the game on just over seven minutes after intermission. He headed home a corner kick from Micah Weller to Whitworth up by three goals. A frustrated TCNJ offense, however, erupted with a scoring flurry over three minutes.
 
The Lions got on the board when senior Domenic Polidoro (Monroe, NJ/Monroe Twp.) slotted a restart from 25 yards out to a sliding Clayton Flon (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills). Flon tucked away his first goal of the 2016 season at the 65:19 mark. One minute and 35 seconds later, senior Nick Costelloe (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) intercepted a pass at midfield from the Pirate defense. He looked up to see goalkeeper Tony Watters 20 yards out of the goal. Costelloe promptly lifted a shot from 45 yards out that sailed over Watters and into the net for his second goal of the season.
 
Less than two minutes later, freshman Mateo Panizza (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) created space in the box and ripped a shot that was saved by Watters. Panizza jumped on the rebound and chipped another shot at an open goal. A Whitworth defender appeared to clear the ball, but the official ruled the ball had crossed the goal line and the game was suddenly tied.
 
Both teams created more chances in the final minutes, but with under 30 seconds remaining, Cassity got loose down the right side. He sent a low pass across the goal mouth that Snyder put away from left side to give Whitworth the victory.
 
TCNJ held a 24-15 advantage shots and created nearly a dozen quality scoring chances. Watters made nine saves for the Pirates, while Lions' goalkeeper Jake Nesteruk (Doylestown, Pa/Central Bucks East) stopped three shots.
 
TCNJ will be back in action when they host FDU Florham on Wednesday, September 14 at 4 p.m. in the TCNJ Soccer Complex.