The College of New Jersey Athletics

EWING, N.J. -The TCNJ men's soccer team went into halftime of its Saturday-afternoon matchup against Ramapo scoreless, but an offensive eruption in the second half was more than enough to carry the Lions to a 4-0, Senior Day win over the Roadrunners.
 
TCNJ (8-0-8, 4-0-4 NJAC) held a narrow edge in a first half in which they outshot Ramapo (8-5-3, 3-3-2 NJAC) 8-5 and took eight corners to the visitors' one, but none of the Lions' four shots on frame were able to get past the Roadrunners' Zachary Natt. Matt Will found himself with the best scoring chance of the opening 45 with just 1:27 left on the clock, only for his bending shot headed for the far corner to be parried by Natt to keep the game scoreless at the break.
 
TCNJ came out inspired in the second half, finally breaking through for the game's opening goal in the 51st minute. Matt Will controlled a pass from Tye Maser just inside the 18, turning inside before finding Matias Hornos to his right. The senior took one touch and fired the ball across goal toward classmate Chris Meder, who redirected it perfectly into the far corner to give the Lions a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
 
Play settled over the ensuing 25 minutes of play before a Roadrunners own goal doubled TCNJ's lead and opened the floodgates in what would end in a four-goal win for the hosts.
 
First to score following the own goal was Rory Grace, who took a feed from Will and beat his defender away from goal before curling a shot around Natt and inside the far post for his first goal in a Lions uniform. After assisting on TCNJ's first two goals – scored by the hosts – it was Will calling his own number with a score in the 85th minute that all but put the game out of reach.
 
Sean Najdinowicz was forced to make one more save in the 89th minute to preserve the Lions' shutout, with the final whistle sounding to secure the 4-0 win and a spot in next week's NJAC Tournament.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ held a 21-13 advantage in shots, including a 14-3 edge in shots on goal.
• The Lions took 11 corners to Ramapo's two.
• Meder, Grace and Manny Thacher shared the team-lead with three shots on goal each.
• Najdzinowicz made three saves, all in the second half.

NOTES

• The win ensures TCNJ a top-4 seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament, meaning the Lions will host at least one game.
• Will now paces TCNJ in assists (4) and points (15) and ranks second in goals (5).
• Meder's goal was his fourth of the season and the 24th of his career.
• Grace's goal was his first in the Blue & Gold.
• Najdzinowicz posted the 10th shutout of his young career, tying the sophomore for the fifth-most in program history.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are back home Wednesday, Oct. 28 to host Stockton in their regular-season finale, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.