EWING, N.J. -The TCNJ men's soccer team opened up its four-game homestand with a match against Farmingdale State Saturday afternoon, scoring twice in both halves en route to a 4-0 win over the Rams.
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The Lions (2-0-2) nearly scored in the game's opening minutes when a cross found
Lawrence Mancino at the far post, but the junior saw his header and ensuing rebound denied by Farmingdale State's (1-4-1) Andrew Verdugo. Two more shots on goal from
Chris Meder and
Nick Luddy were denied by the Rams' netminder before
Ashton Ritter finally opened the scoring in the 30th minute.
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A failed clearance by Verdugo – thanks in large part due to pressure applied by
Matt Will – popped the ball into the air right around the penalty spot. The freshman was the first to it, sending a header off a Rams defender and into the open net to secure his first collegiate goal and give TCNJ the hard-earned 1-0 lead.
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Twelve minutes later it was the hosts doubling their lead thanks to a pretty combination play between its midfielders, with
Brennan Libo sending a cross toward
Nick Luddy, who laid the ball off to set up a one-time shot from
Tyler Borenstein that beat Verdugo at the near post to make it a 2-0 game heading into halftime.
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The Lions' high press paid off once again just seven minutes into the second half when Meder forced a turnover in Farmingdale State territory. The senior had his initial shot denied, but there for the rebound was
Aidan Ayar, who sent home his team-leading fifth goal of the season to push TCNJ's advantage to three.
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TCNJ's fourth and final goal came in the 71st minute off yet another Rams turnover. The Lions controlled the ball in the midfield following the change in possession before
Alex Lopez sent a decisive forward pass to Luddy. The freshman turned into space and found
Preston Paul inside the box, who shook off his defender and sent a left-footed strike that snuck just inside the far post to bag his first career goal and end the game with a decisive 4-0 win.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- TCNJ outshot Farmingdale State 24-4, including a 14-1 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Lions took nine corners to the Rams' three.
- Luddy led all players in shots (4) and shots on goal (3).
- Carson Dodd made just one save in TCNJ's first shutout of the season.
NOTES
- Ritter, Borenstein and Paul's goals were the first of their collegiate careers.
- Luddy's assist was the first of his career while Libo's was the sophomore's first in a TCNJ uniform.
- Meders' assist was the senior's 22nd of his career.
- Ayar's goal is already his fifth of the season and pushes his career total to nine.
- The sophomore has scored in all four of the Lions' games to start the season.
- The shutout is the fifth of Dodd's career.
UP NEXT
- TCNJ is back home Wednesday, Sept. 16 to host Muhlenberg, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
