Wayne, NJ … Single goals in the first and second half propelled The College of New Jersey men's soccer team to a 2-0 shutout victory over William Paterson University in their New Jersey Athletic Conference opener on Saturday afternoon in Wayne,  NJ.
 
Seniors Sean Etheridge (Oakland, NJ/Ramapo) and Thomas Hogue (Ridgefield Park, NJ/Bergen Catholic) provided the scoring punch off of assists from sophomore Nick Sample (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) and junior Peter Dresch (Highland Park, NJ/St. Joseph). Goalkeeper Dan Walsh (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) stopped five shots to register his first career shutout.
 
After a hot start in 2015, it took the Lions five games to earn their first points in the NJAC. TCNJ took care of business in their first league game, gaining three points in the standings in its2016 opener.
 
Etheridge wasted no time putting TCNJ (4-3, 1-0 NJAC) on the board. Sample lifted a cross from the left side and Etheridge headed it home for a 1-0 lead. It's the second straight match that Etheridge scored the opening goal on a head ball.
 
It remained a one-goal game through the first half. But after the break, Dresch delivered a pass to Hogue in the 53^rd minute and he drilled into the upper left-hand corner to give the Lions a two-goal cushion.
 
The Pioneers (3-3-1, 0-1 NJAC) rallied late and applied pressure to the TCNJ defense. Walsh came up with three saves in the final 10 minutes to secure the league victory.
 
The Lions will remain on the road for a Wednesday night game at Drew University. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.