The College of New Jersey Athletics

ITHACA, N.Y. - It was a battle of the unbeatens as the TCNJ men's soccer team wrapped up its weekend road trip with a match against Ithaca Sunday evening, scoring the game's first two goals before a last-minute equalizer forced the Lions to settle for a 2-2 draw.
 
It was Aidan Ayar continuing his red-hot start to the season by scoring the game's opening goal in just the ninth minute of play. Classmate Matt Will carried the ball down the right side of the field before slipping a pass to Chris Meder just outside the 18. The senior combined with Manny Thacher to find a cutting Ayar, who deked his defender before sending a curling shot just inside the far post to give TCNJ (1-0-2) the early 1-0 lead. The goal was the sophomore's fourth of the season through three games, matching his total from the entirety of his freshman campaign.
 
The game slowed to a halt as the fouls continued to pile up for both sides – six yellow cards were assessed in the first half alone – but it was the Lions working quickly off a reset to double their lead at the 36:40 mark. James Brady flicked on a header off a TCNJ throw-in toward Meder, who worked his way past two Ithaca (2-0-1) defenders, settled the ball just inside the box and fired a left-footed shot over the Bombers' netminder and in to make it a 2-0 game.
 
A scrum in front of net just under three minutes later would result in a Bombers goal that cut TCNJ's lead in half, sending the Lions into halftime up 2-1.
 
Much of the second half was spent inside TCNJ's half as the hosts searched desperately for an equalizer, but Sean Najdzinowicz did well to keep any threats at bay through the first 30 minutes. As pressure mounted and fouls continued to be called, however, it was Matt Maceri falling victim to a questionable second yellow card that left the Lions down a man for the final 3:37 of the game.
 
Now up a player, Ithaca finally broke through with 55 seconds left on the clock to knot the game at two and steal the win from TCNJ in front of a raucous home crowd.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions were outshot 23-8, including a 9-5 edge in shots on goal.
• The Bombers took six corners compared to just one for TCNJ.
• The team's combined for 26 fouls and 13 yellow cards by the final whistle.

NOTES

• Ayar has now scored in three straight games to start the season.
• Meder's goal was the first of his senior campaign and the 21st of his career.
• Najdzinowicz made a season-high seven saves, one shy of his career high from a season ago.
• The Lions will have to play their next game without Maceri following tonight's red card.

UP NEXT

• TCNJ is back home Saturday, Sept. 12 to take on Farmingdale State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.