TCNJ wins Roger Taylor Fall Classic; Bishops take second

Rocky Mount, NC - The Lions of The College of New Jersey went 2-0 at the 2009 Roger Taylor Men’s Soccer Fall Classic this weekend, taking home the championship and sending host North Carolina Wesleyan to a runner-up finish for the second straight year. TCNJ earned a 3-2 win over the Battling Bishops on Saturday before knocking off Greensboro by a 3-1 score on Sunday.  Wesleyan wrapped up second place with a convincing 5-0 win over New Jersey City College in the tourney’s final game.  NCWC is now 2-1 to start the season.

On Sunday, the Lions secured the championship with a 3-1 win over Greensboro in the first game of the day. With the game tied 1-1 in the second half, TCNJ's Ray Nelan and Mike Razzoli tallied scores in the 63rd and 64th minutes, respectively, for the 3-1 final.

The Lions had previously upset 24th-ranked NCWC on Saturday by a 3-2 score.  The Bishops got first half goals from Luke Oakley and Robert Ivanovich to take a 2-1 lead into intermission only to see TCNJ tie the score on a Brian Galicia goal less than 10 minutes into the final period. Anthony Staropoli later netted the eventual gamewinner in the 71st minute off a successful free kick.

The tourney's final game saw the Battling Bishops secure second place with a dominating 5-0 victory over New Jersey City University. Sophomore Arkadiusz Trochowski gave the Bishops all the offense they would need with his first goal of the season at the 10:20 mark. Freshman Michael Muhseler then made it a 2-0 game just 30 seconds later, while his second goal of the day in the 18th minute gave NCWC a 3-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Gudmundur Palsson and Robert Ivanovich each netted scores for the 5-0 final.  Muhseler and Trochowski each recorded assists on the plays.

NCWC out-shot its opponents 18-6 on the day and held a 6-1 advantage in corners. Dennis Kommol earned his first shutout in goal and moved to 2-0 on the season, while Manny Lojo took the loss for the Gothic Knights.

Third and fourth place went to Greensboro and NJCU, respectively. The two teams had previously fought to a 3-3 draw on Saturday to finish 0-1-1 in the tournament.  GC took third on goal differential.

North Carolina Wesleyan returns to action next Saturday and Sunday at Greensboro’s Doug Hamilton Memorial Tournament.  The Bishops will take on York College (PA) at noon on Saturday.

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