By Shawn Retta
Staff Writer
In a week where each game had four goals scored, the men’s soccer team was able to remain undefeated, currently holding a record of one win, no losses and two draws. A big factor that contributed to this successful week was the breakout performance by sophomore midfielder, Aidan Ayar.
Through three games this season, Ayar has already scored four times, the same amount of times as he did his freshman campaign, where he had 21 appearances on the pitch for the Lions. He’s matched that total in just three games this season. This successful week awarded Ayar with becoming the first New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week this season. He is the first Lion to win this award since Chris Meder on October 20, 2025 and the first to win the award in week 1 since Michael Kassak in 2017.
Ayar’s best performance came in the Lion’s first away match at Elmira, where he set the tone with a goal in the 21st minute and followed it up with another in the 76th minute in a 3-1 win.
However, even with Ayar’s stellar performances, one thing evident in the two draws was the team’s inability to hold on to the lead in the final minutes. In the season opener versus Manhattanville, Ayar drove past a defender, and snuck the ball past two more in the 85th minute to give the team a 2-1 lead with less than five minutes to go. It was soon evened up by a last minute goal by the Valiant’s Alec Pineda, resulting in a draw.
In their third match, a similar story unfolded. Up 2-1 in the final minute at Ithaca, an equalizing goal by Anthony Cocca made the final score 2-2.
However, no matter which way you put it, this Lions team had a great first week and the fans should have no doubt that the adjustments will be made in order to keep that undefeated streak going and add a couple more wins instead of ties.
Other Lions who picked up a goal in this successful starting week were senior captain Chris Meder, junior Matt Will, and sophomore Tye Maser.
The Lions begin a four game homestretch where they will continue to defend their unbeaten streak when they take on Farmingdale State on Sept. 12 at 3:00pm, followed by Muhlenberg on Sept. 16.
