The College's men's soccer team added two to the win column this week to maintain its undefeated record.
As New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play opened on Saturday afternoon, the Lions netted a 2-1 comeback win over Montclair State University and earned a 3-2 victory in a non-conference game against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday night.
The College now remains unbeaten with a 5-0-1 record, and will look to build upon its scrappy victory against Montclair State. Head coach George Nazario knows that NJAC games have a crucial impact on the rest of the season.
"This was a conference game and the guys got to win. This is one of the games last year that got away from us," he said. "It gives them more confidence than anything else.
The Lions showed tenacity in Saturday's last-minute comeback win over the Red Hawks.
The College earned the victory on a game-winning goal from sophomore forward Matt Luber at the game's 86-minute mark off a feed from sophomore midfielder Joseph McGinley to break a 1-1 tie.
"We put a lot of pressure on them," Luber said. "The ball popped out and Joe McGinley had a great pass and found me wide open."
It was Luber's second game-winning goal of the season. He now has five goals in total with two assists.
The Lions began the second half with a 1-0 deficit, but pulled back to tie the score at the 83-minute mark with a goal from junior defenseman Tim Dudek.
Dudek has netted three goals in the past two games, adding to his team-leading six goals for the season.
"He's been a play-maker for most of the year and so far has a couple key goals," captain Matt Connor said about Dudek. "He's playing great. He's playing with a lot of heart and just comes from everywhere."
The Red Hawks had their only goal on a score by junior midfielder Bill Anthes 33 minutes into the game.
On Wednesday, the Lions beat Stevens after scoring all of its goals in the first 60 minutes.
The College netted a pair of goals from Dudek with assists from senior forward Matt Woolston and freshman forward Nick Ruskoski. Ruskoski also had a goal, heading in a cross from sophomore forward Craig Langan.
The Ducks made the game closer at the end of the second half, with goals from junior defenseman Nick Gkionis at the 71-minute mark and senior midfielder Steve Liebezeit at the 85-minute mark.
The Lions' sophomore goalie Matt Kasperavicius and the Ducks' junior goalie each had three saves for their respective teams.
The College will be on the road the next three games, beginning with Ramapo College this Wednesday at 4 p.m.
