EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey men's soccer team defeated Gettysburg College in the first game of the 2018 TCNJ men's soccer classic by a final score of 2-1.    TCNJ improved to 4-0 while Gettysburg fell to 1-2 on the season.

The first half was a stalemate, as neither team was able to crack the other side's defense. The Lions defensive unit of Michael Maltese, Matt Decker, and Joerg Jauk shut down the Bullets' attack as they only surrendered one shot on goal.

In the second half the Bullets got on the board 59 seconds in to take a 1-0 lead. The equalizer came off of a Ryan Vazquez header in the 63rd minute. Maltese sent a left footed pass from about 25 yards out on the left side, and Vazquez punched it in to notch things up at 1-1. Vazquez continued his early season scoring streak, as he now has six goals on the 2018 campaign.

The Bullets had a splendid opportunity to take the lead in the 70th minute as they had a penalty kick, however Lions' keeper Daniel Mecadon came up with the huge diving save to keep the game tied at 1-1. 

It appeared as if the game was destined for overtime, however the Lions thought otherwise. With just over a minute to go, Nick Sample sent a beautiful ball in off of a free kick, and Jauk out-jumped a sea of bodies and the header found the back of the net to put the Lions on top. The final minute was controlled by the Lions as they held onto victory.

With the clutch assist, Sample now has 17 on his career which ties him for 10th place all-time in program history. Mecadon registered three saves in net en route to his second win of the season.
 
TCNJ is back at it tomorrow against Elizabethtown College at 3:30 p.m.