ASTON, Pa. -The TCNJ men's soccer team closed out its non-conference slate on the road against Neumann Saturday afternoon, turning
Matt Maceri's first collegiate brace into a 3-0 win over the Knights. The victory moves the Lions to 4-0-4 to start the season, marking the second straight year in which they will enter conference play undefeated.
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There was little to separate the sides in the early going, with TCNJ and Neumann (5-3-1) combining to put just two shots on frame – one apiece – in the opening 40 minutes. It looked as though the game would stay level until the break, but a penalty call on a Lions corner in the 43rd minute sent Maceri to the spot, with the sophomore firing a shot into the back of the net to give TCNJ the 1-0 just before halftime.
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Maceri carried that momentum into the second half, taking just over three minutes to double the Lions' lead and secure himself his first collegiate brace off a free kick from
Aidan Grund. The sophomore sent an in-swinger from just inside Knights territory finding Maceri open once again at the penalty spot. This time the sophomore used his head, redirecting the ball just inside the far post and in to push TCNJ's advantage to two.
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The Lions kept the pressure on in search of a third, scoring their final goal in the 76th minute off the foot of
Matt Will, who did well to intercept a loose pass by a Neumann defender before beating the Knights' goalkeeper at the near post to make it a 3-0 game.
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Sean Najdzinowicz, who entered the game at halftime for
Carson Dodd, had to make just one save over the final 15 minutes before the final whistle secured TCNJ its third shutout of the season.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions held a slight advantage in both shots (10-9) and shots on goal (6-4).
- TCNJ took four corners to Neumann's one.
- Six yellow cards were assessed in the game, four the Knights and two to the Lions.
- Maceri, Will, Chris Meder and Brennan Libo shared the team lead at two shots apiece.
- Grund was the only TCNJ player to play all 90 minutes.
NOTES
- Maceri now has three goals in 2026 after scoring just once as a freshman.
- Grund's assist was his first of the year and the fifth of his career.
- Dodd and Najdzinowicz earned a combined shutout for the first time in their careers.
UP NEXT
- The Lions will be back home Wednesday, Sept. 30 to host fourth-ranked Rowan in a highly-anticipated rematch of last season's NJAC Championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
