The College of New Jersey Athletics

EWING, N.J.. -The TCNJ men's soccer team opened up conference play with a highly-anticipated match against third-ranked Rowan Wednesday night, playing the Profs to a 1-1 tie in front of a raucous home crowd.
 
It was the Lions (4-0-5, 0-0-1 NJAC) generating the evening's first chance in the seventh minute when a Chris Meder cross found the head of Nick Luddy near the penalty spot, but the freshman's effort missed just wide of the far post to keep the game scoreless.
 
Momentum then shifted briefly in the visitors' favor, with Rowan's first two shots of the night sailing high before Christian McGillen and Luke McNamee combined to find Joey Kurak at the near post to put the third-ranked team in the country up 1-0 at the 27:17 mark.
 
The Profs' (5-0-2, 0-0-1 NJAC) lead was short-lived, however, as it was Brennan Libo cashing on on just the second goal Rowan had allowed all season to level things at one just under 12 minutes later. Tye Maser forced a Profs turnover in their own corner, carrying the ball into the box and finding Libo. The sophomore saw his first shot denied, but rifled the rebound into the netting to tie things at one entering the halftime break.
 
TCNJ had to withstand an onslaught of corners to open the second half – the visitors racked up three in the first two minutes out of the intermission – but did well to keep goalkeeper Sean Najdzinowicz from needing to make any saves.
 
Instead it was the Lions creating the first real opportunities midway through the second, only for shots headed for the bottom corner from Maser and Aidan Ayar to be turned aside by Mike Moore.
 
Rowan outshot TCNJ 6-1 down the stretch, but Najdzinowicz only had his number called once before the final whistle ended proceedings in a 1-1 draw.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions were outshot 17-9, but held a 4-2 edge in shots on goal.
• The Profs took six corners to TCNJ's four.
• Libo led all players with his two shots on goal.

NOTES

• Libo's goal was the first of his collegiate career.
  • It was also just the second goal Rowan has allowed this season.
• This is the first tie in the series since 2009, also a 1-1 draw.
• The Lions are undefeated in each of their last four NJAC openers.
  • TCNJ's streak of nine unbeaten games to start the season is tied for the most since 1995.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are back on the road Saturday, Oct. 3 to take on Kean, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.