Valcarce
1
TCNJ TCNJMSOC (9-5-2)
3
Winner Stevens STEVENS (13-2-1)
TCNJ TCNJMSOC
(9-5-2)
1
Final
3
Stevens STEVENS
(13-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
TCNJ TCNJMSOC 0 1 1
Stevens STEVENS 2 1 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Charles O'Brien

Men’s Soccer downs TCNJ 3-1

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 17, 2018)  – Senior Nikolai Figueroa and freshman Jon Valcarce each netted their first goals of the season to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over The College of New Jersey Wednesday in a non-conference fixture at unseasonably cold and windy DeBaun Athletic Complex.

Freshman Adam Silva also found the back of the net for Stevens, who improved to 13-2-1 on the year. The Ducks have topped the Lions in four of the last five meetings between the programs, including each of the last three. Stevens' 13 regular-season victories are the most for the program since 2013, when the team won 14 matches in the regular season before winning three straight to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Dante Bettino had the lone goal for TCNJ, who saw its two-match winning streak come to an end. The Lions fell to 9-5-2. 

Senior Aaron Henry made four saves to earn his 11th victory for the Ducks. 

Pivotal Point
  • With Stevens leading 1-0, Valcarce played a crossing ball from just inside the left corner flag. 
  • TCNJ's goalkeeper Daniel Mecadon jumped to snag the cross, but made a last-minute decision to pull his hands back.
  • The swirling DeBaun winds got a hold of the ball, allowing the cross to sneak into the top right corner of the net to push Stevens' lead to two.

Inside the Numbers
  • Stevens held a 16-10 advantage in shots, including a 7-5 edge in shots on net.
  • The Ducks were held to a season-low three corners. TCNJ took eight, although three came in 90-second span midway through the second half and three came in the final 6:25 of the match.
  • Freshman Seth Onolaja and seniors Daniel Aversano and Haddy Abdelhady each collected an assist.
  • Stevens extended its streak of not allowing a first-half goal. The Ducks are outscoring opponents 16-0 in the first half this season.
  • Figueroa's marker was the earliest for the team this season and the third career tally for the Auburn, California native.
  • Silva moved into the lead atop the Empire 8 scoring leaderboard with 19 points.

Unsung Heroes
  • A tight defense and controlled play in the attacking third, kept TCNJ without a shot for 42:15, spanning the first and second halves.

From the Sidelines
  • "Happy with the win against a talented TCNJ team. The weather conditions didn't make for quality soccer at times."
  • "We now have to switch gears and prepare for a tough conference road game against Nazareth on Saturday."

Up Next
  • Men's Soccer heads to Rochester, New York for the final road fixture of the regular season Saturday against E8 opponent Nazareth College. 
  • Stevens is a perfect 14-0-1 all-time against the Golden Flyers.
  • A victory by Stevens clinches a regular-season title for the Ducks.
  • Live stats and video links are available at StevensDucks.com

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