EWING, N.J. -The TCNJ men's soccer team hosted Muhlenberg in non-conference action Wednesday night, playing from behind for the first time all season before finding a first-half equalizer to clinch a 1-1 draw in front of the home crowd at Lions Stadium.
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In a match between sides with largely similar playstyles, it was the Mules (1-1-3) striking first in the 10th minute. The visitors' high press forced TCNJ (2-0-3) to retreat all the way back to
Sean Najdzinowicz in goal, but the sophomore had his attempted clearance blocked by a fast-closing Daniel Ariza, who regained possession and found the back of the net to put the Lions in the hole for the first time in 2026.
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TCNJ generated chances from both
Matt Will and
Chris Meder in search of an equalizer, but it wasn't until the 40:01 mark that the Lions finally found a response off the head of
Matt Maceri. Will sent an in-swinger toward the top of the six that got past the Mules' Nico Famularo, setting up the 6-foot-2 Maceri to do the rest, with the sophomore's header knotting things at one.
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TCNJ would earn two more corners in the final three minutes of the opening half, but could not get a shot on frame to send the game into halftime level.
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Both offenses turned it up a notch in the second half unwilling to settle for one point, but neither team was able to turn any of their seven second-half shots into a winner. The best chance came in the 61st minute when a cross toward the far post found the head of Thomas Schrieber, but Nadjzinowicz's diving effort kept the ball out of goal and the game even at 1-1 where it would remain until the final whistle.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions narrowly outshot Muhlenberg, 12-11, but the Mules held the 4-2 edge in shots on goal.
- TCNJ took nine corners to the Mules' two.
- Chris Meder and Will finished with a game-high four shots, matched by Muhlenberg's Saleem Diakite.
NOTES
- Maceri's goal was his first of the season and the second of the sophomore's career.
- Will's assist pushes his career tally to four.
- The Lions are unbeaten through their first five games for the second straight season.
UP NEXT
- TCNJ continues its homestand Saturday, Sept. 19 with a match against Hunter College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.