GLASSBORO, N.J. - The TCNJ men's soccer team was on the road to take on 24th-ranked Rowan in their regular season finale Wednesday night, carrying a one-goal lead into halftime before falling 2-1 to the Profs.
 
Rowan (12-3-4, 5-2-2 NJAC) controlled play early in Wednesday's contest, getting off eight shots in the opening 30 minutes, but Sean Najdzinowicz did well to make a pair of saves to keep the hosts off the board. The Lions (9-4-5, 4-3-2 NJAC) were only able to muster a pair of corners in that stretch of play, but took the lead against the run of play in the 34th minute when Chris Meder drew a penalty and converted from the spot to give TCNJ a 1-0 lead.
 
Najdzinowicz had his number called on numerous occasions in the final 12 minutes, but saved all three shots that were headed for goal to push his first-half save total to five and send the Lions into the break up one.
 
The Profs continued to pepper the net in the second half, finally converted on their 13th corner of the night to level the game at one in the 73rd minute. A TCNJ own goal just three minutes later served as the difference maker in a 2-1 loss for the Lions.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rowan held a commanding, 28-2 lead in shots including a 9-2 edge in shots on goal.
• The Profs also took 14 corners to TCNJ's four.

NOTES

• Meder's goal was his team-best ninth of the season to pair with his nine assists.
• Najdzinowicz made a season-high eight saves in just his second loss of the season.
• Despite the loss the Lions own the tiebreaker over both Rutgers-Camden and William Paterson, meaning TCNJ has earned the four seed and the right to host a quarterfinal match in the upcoming NJAC Tournament for the first time since 2013.

UP NEXT

• The Lions will be home Saturday, Nov. 1 to take on fifth-seed Rutgers-Camden in the opening round of the NJAC Tournament, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.