EWING, N.J. – TCNJ will recognize two of its anniversary championship teams as part of Saturday's Homecoming celebration.

The 1996 men's soccer team and 1996 football team are celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their NCAA and NJAC championships, respectively, and will be honored during halftime of those programs' respective games this weekend.

The 1996 men's soccer team made history as the first and only NCAA champion in program history. They did so in extraordinary fashion, outlasting Kenyon in an epic title clash that ended with Mark Laurinaitis' golden goal with six seconds remaining in the fourth overtime period on Kenyon's home field.

Entering the NCAA tournament for their eighth consecutive year, the Lions had come close to a national title, finishing runner-up in 1991 and placing third in 1994. The 1996 Lions had a flair for the dramatic, winning all five of their NCAA Tournament games by a single goal or in penalties. They defeated rival Rowan, 3-2, in the opening round, then took down regional host Richard Stockton in a 2-1 decision. TCNJ then knocked off defending national champion Williams, 1-0, in overtime on Bertrand Louis' lone goal of the season before downing Ithaca in penalty kicks after a scoreless deadlock in the semifinals.

That set up a legendary clash with Kenyon, and delivered in quadruple overtime to give the Lions their first NCAA title.

That Lions team was led by Albie Lobbato (13 goals, 6 assists) and Jason Cairns (11 goals, 9 assists), a three-time All-American who went on to earn National Player of the Year recognition in 1997.

From that team, Cairns earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Umbro First Team All-American honors, while teammate Brian Bianco was named to the honorable mention All-American team. Nazario was tabbed Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year. Along with Cairns and Bianco, Rob Jordan, Chris Foley, Jeremy Beardsley, and Garry Lindstra also earned NJAC honors that season. Albie Lobbato was named NJAC Rookie of the Year.

The 1996 football squad was the first in the TCNJ era to capture an NJAC championship, and earned an NCAA Tournament victory with a thrilling 17-16 defeat of the US Coast Guard Academy in the first round. The Lions went a perfect 5-0 in conference play and placed seven of its members on the All-NJAC Team.

Hall of Fame coach Eric Hamilton compiled a record of 212-144-6 for his 37-year career on the Lions' sideline. During his tenure, the Lions advanced to seven postseason appearances in the ECAC and the NCAA Division III championship tournament. TCNJ enjoyed NCAA tournament appearances in 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2007, while garnering ECAC tournament bids in 1995 and 2003. In October of 2010, he became just the 12^th coach in Division III history to capture his 200^th victory. Hamilton was a six-time NJAC Coach of the Year, including after the 1996 campaign.

The Lions football program enjoyed 22 winning seasons under Hamilton and eight conference championships (two as a member of the New Jersey State Athletic Conference and six in the New Jersey Athletic Conference). The first in school history came in 1980 when his squad compiled an 8-1-1 record. They added conference titles in 1983, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2007.