HOBOKEN, N.J. - The TCNJ men's soccer team was on the road to take on in-state rival Stevens Friday night, battling to a hard-fought, 1-1 tie against the Ducks.
 
The Lions (4-0-1) created the first scoring chance of the afternoon in the 8th minute when Matias Hornos took on multiple Stevens defenders down the right side of the field before carrying the ball to the goal line. Out of running room, the junior rifled a shot that threatened to sneak under the crossbar, but his effort was forced out by the Ducks' Sebastian Montoulieu, with TCNJ unable to convert on the corner opportunity to keep the game scoreless.
 
Stevens (1-1-3) was responsible for the lone other shot on target in the opening stanza, but Omar Martinez's shot at the 35:19 mark was calmly collected by Sean Najdzinowicz, leaving the sides knotted at zero entering halftime.
 
A new half meant new opportunities for both teams and it was the Lions taking advantage, scoring the game's opening goal just 26 seconds into the restart off the foot of Matt Will.
 
J.J. Zaun won the ball in the midfield and sent a pass to Chris Meder down the left sideline. The junior carried the ball into the box before finding a streaking Will, who one-timed a shot to the top of the net and in to give TCNJ the 1-0 lead.
 
Hornos and Meder nearly doubled the lead with shots just 45 seconds apart in the 55th and 56 minutes, but Montoulieu did well to keep the ball out of his net and Stevens down one. The Ducks upped their pressure from there in search of an equalizer, sending a trio of shots wide before finally finding it with just over 10 minutes left in the game on a header by Thomas Smith.
 
Hornos had one final opportunity to put the Lions back in front in the 83rd minute off a pretty feed from Meder but saw his shot sail high, with a routine save by Najdzinowicz with 27 ticks on the clock ending the game in a 1-1 draw.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Stevens outshot TCNJ 15-8, but it was the Lions that held a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal.
• Both sides took a pair of corners in each half.
• Hornos led all players in shots (4) and shots on goal (2).

NOTES

• Meder's second-half assist extended his streak of games with at least one point to five.
• TCNJ extended its unbeaten streak to five games to start the year, the program's best mark since 2018.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are back home Wednesday, Sept. 17 to take on Arcadia, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.