WAYNE, N.J. -The TCNJ men's soccer team kicked off its three-game road trip with a match against William Paterson Wednesday night, pairing the game's lone goal with a suffocating defensive effort to secure a critical, 1-0 victory over the Pioneers.
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There was little to separate the sides in the opening 24 minutes of Wednesday's contest, with the Lions (6-0-7, 2-0-3 NJAC) taking two corners compared to three shots from the hosts before
Sean Najdzinowicz was forced to make his first save of the evening in the 24:18 mark.
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William Paterson (3-8-2, 1-4-0 NJAC) continued to apply pressure to the tune of two corners and another shot that forced a Najdzinowicz save, before it was TCNJ finally breaking the scoreless tie in the 42nd minute.
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Taking their third corner of the night,
Aidan Grund sent a ball to the far post that was met first by
Finn McCarthy. The freshman sent his header back toward a wide-open Brady at the near post, who headed the ball home for his second of the season to give the Lions the 1-0 lead just before the break.
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The Pioneers fired off 10 shots in the second half in search of an equalizer, but Najdzinowicz was forced to make just one more save en route to the one-goal win.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Both teams finished with four shots on goal despite William Paterson outshooting TCNJ 17-6.
- The Lions and Pioneers each took four corners.
- Three of TCNJ's four shots came from players off the bench in Matias Hornos, Brennan Libo and Brady.
- Najdzinowicz made four saves to secure his third straight shutout.
NOTES
- Brady's goal was his second of the season and his first game winner.
- The assist was the first of McCarthy's career and the second for Grund this season.
- Najdzinowicz eclipsed 100 career saves in the win, becoming the 15th goalkeeper in program history to reach that milestone
UP NEXT
- The Lions continue their three-game road trip Saturday, Oct. 17 with a match against SUNY New Paltz. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
