EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ men's soccer team came from three goals down with just over 30 minutes remaining to snatch a 3-3 draw from Rutgers-Newark in a wild NJAC shootout on Saturday.

Julien Carraha scored his first career goal to kick-start the rally, which continued with goals by Pablo Argueta and Matias Hornos and saw the Lions nearly snatch a late winner on multiple occasions in a Homecoming instant classic.

The Scarlet Raiders (7-5-4, 1-1-4) got on the board first just past the 15-minute mark, when Erick Cortes was dragged down inside the box and stepped up to convert the resulting penalty.

Cortes cashed in another penalty in the 33^rd minute, the only two shots on goal – and two of the three overall – conceded by the Lions in the first half.

Cortes capped his hat-trick just 40 seconds after the second half restart, taking a pass from Ian Brown and turning and firing into the lower left corner of the netting.
TCNJ (1-10-5, 1-3-2) got on the board just shy of the hour mark, when Sam Snyder was fouled going up for a header off a Chris Meder corner. Up stepped Carraha, who had his penalty attempt saved but rifled the rebound into the open net to open his collegiate account.

The Lions upped the pressure and got within 3-2 in the 74^th minute as Argueta made a run and settled a pass from Meder before taking a touch to his right and curling a shot into the top right corner of the net. They pulled even with just shy of 10 minutes to play as Hornos headed a high-arcing deflection into the lower left corner corner of the net and past the diving Newark keeper.

TCNJ was inches from taking the lead a minute later, when Carraha volleyed Meder's corner for Hornos, who headed it backward and off the underside of the crossbar. 

Another loose ball or two in the box almost went TCNJ's way, and Meder had one last look at a winner, but his shot from the edge of the box was right at the Newark keeper as the final seconds ticked away.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ outshot the Scarlet Raiders, 18-11, including a 15-8 edge in the second half
• The Lions had 10 corners to just four for Newark
• Argueta led a balanced attack with four shots, while Meder, Hornos, and Carraha each got off three attempts
• Cortes led the Scarlet Raiders with seven shots

NOTES

• Hornos increased his team-leading goal tally to four
• Argueta's goal was the second of his career
• Carraha's first goal came in his 67^th career game and 55^th career start
• Colin Rentner finished with three second-half saves for the Lions, while Pedro Flores had six for Newark

UP NEXT

• The Lions host New Jersey on Wednesday for Senior Night