Roanoke, Va. … The College of New Jersey snapped a two-game skid by defeating Roanoke College, 2-1 on Sunday at the All Sports Café Roanoke Invitational.
 
The Lions improved to 3-2 with the win and have one more non-conference match before opening New Jersey Athletic Conference play next Saturday.
 
Senior Kevin Nelan (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) scored his first collegiate goal in the opening half and classmate Peter Dresch (Highland Park, NJ/St. Joseph) tallied in the second half to spark the triumph. Roanoke's Cole Thorton converted a penalty kick with 1:23 remaining, but it only served to avoid the shutout.
 
In the 19^th minute, senior Michael Kassak (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) fired a shot that was stopped by goalkeeper Nick Tadros. Nelan followed the shot and knocked the rebound into the right side of the net to give TCNJ a 1-0 lead.
 
Holding a one-goal lead midway through the second period, Dresch fired a shot into the right-hand corner in the 71^st minute to extend the Lions' lead to 2-0. It was the ninth career goal for Dresch.
 
Freshman Michael Kayal (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) made two saves to register his third win in net. He nearly collected his second shutout, but the late PK allowed the Maroons to get on the board.
 
TCNJ will visit FDU-Florham on Wednesday night before returning home to face William Paterson University in its NJAC opener. The Lions play the Pioneers at 1 p.m. in the soccer complex.