EWING N.J. –  The TCNJ men's soccer team fought hard with but eventually fell to RPI on Wednesday evening at home by a score of 5-0.
 
The Lions (2-5-1) played a very solid first half with one mistake on the back end that cost them. The Engineers (3-1-2) won their third game in a row along with the second shutout in a row.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• TCNJ found a pair of opportunities in the first on a Mike Garofalo shot right in front of the net that the RPI goalkeeper was able to punch over the top of the crossbar.
• The second opportunity for the Lions came off a hand ball in the box that was called back and would have resulted in a penalty that could have given the Lions the lead.
• Just minutes after, a fight for possession in their defensive third led to a low running shot sent underneath the sliding Julian Franco to pull ahead 1-0 in the 37^th.
• RPI then extended their lead to five in the second half as they added on four goals off two penalties and two goals in the open field. The Engineers defense held the Lions to just two shots in the second half.
• The best opportunity of the second half came from a shot by Matias Hornos that sailed just over the crossbar and out of play.

NOTES:

• Julian Franco inched closer to 7^th on the all-time saves list with three saves this afternoon. That brings his career total to 191 saves and seven away from 7^th.
• Leading TCNJ in shots for the afternoon was Luke Pascarella with three.
• Freshman Logan Gebhart got his first taste of action on the field as he came in to replace Julian Franco for the last 15 minutes of the game and recorded his first career save.

UP NEXT:

• TCNJ is back on the field this Saturday as they travel to Mahwah, N.J. for the start of NJAC play with a matchup against Ramapo set for 12 PM.