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(02/28/17 7:43am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions came up short on their quest to the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship on Feb. 21, falling to New Jersey City University, 77-69. The Gothic Knights advanced to the championship game at Ramapo College.
A roaring crowd watched on as two strong teams squared off. In the end, the Gothic Knights defense, ranked ninth in the nation, reigned supreme as they applied constant pressure throughout the 40 minutes. They were able to force 19 turnovers in the game, scoring 22 points off those takeaways.
The game was low scoring in the first half, as the Lions led 28-24 after the first two quarters. Junior guard Eric Murdock Jr. and senior forward Corey Stanford drained important three-pointers in the first half, allowing the team to have control early. However, the Gothic Knights started the third quarter on an 8-0 run, swinging the momentum to their favor.
Senior guard Eric Klacik stopped the Gothic Knights streak and nailed his 172nd career three-pointer, moving him into third of all-time in program history, past Lions hall of famer Greg Grant. Minutes later, the Gothic Knights clamped down on their defense and prevented the Lions from making a field goal for the next seven minutes.
Junior forward Elias Bermudez was able to put a layup off a rebound with 2:27 left in the game clock, cheering of the home crowd. The Lions eight free-throws kept them in the game.
The Gothic Knights remained strong on both sides in the second half, amounting a lead that was too much for the Lions. Their strong performance at the free-throw line held their lead as the buzzer went off. Murdock. Jr. led the Lions offense with 19 points, going 5-7 from the arc. Stanford posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, and senior forward Bobby Brackett scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The conference semifinal marked Brackett’s last game and ended his historic career. He finished third all-time in rebounds with 836, fourth all-time in blocks with 79 and 19th all-time in points scored with 1,063. What is more impressive is that Brackett compiled the stats in three years.
“We’ve come such a long way since myself and Klacik got here,” Brackett said. “It all started a couple years before with guys like Skye Ettin and our (former) coach, Kelly Williams. We’ve been able to improve every season since our first year.
“To be second in the NJAC and be top five in the region at the end of the season is a great accomplishment for this program,” Brackett added. “Obviously, winning an NJAC Championship would make everything so much better, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done.”
The Lions look to continue their dominance in the NJAC in the next few years, as head coach Matt Goldsmith has accumulated a strong 34-20 record in his first two seasons.
“I am going to miss hundreds of things — the fans, games, other teammates and just being a TCNJ student athlete,” Brackett said. But Eric (Klacik) has been there all four years with me and has made me a better person and player, so I will absolutely miss playing with him the most.
(02/21/17 6:43am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions finished their regular season on a strong note as they defeated Rutgers University-Newark 68-55 on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The team completed a perfect season at home this year, going 12-0 and winning every home game by at least six points. Their 14-4 overall conference record earned them the second seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament, resulting in a bye over this past weekend.
In their last regular season game, the Lions needed a strong performance from senior forward Corey Stanford because senior forward Bobby Bracket and junior guard Eric Murdock, Jr. were out of the lineup. Stanford came up big, scoring 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds as well. Junior forward Elias Bermudez also played a key role in the win, almost securing a double-double with eight points and 10 boards. Sophomore guard Joe Montano added 13 points in the win off a strong shooting night.
The game was close throughout, as Rutgers-Newark hung tough all night. The Lions were down just four points with seven minutes to play, but they pulled away with a 13-2 run capped by Stanford scoring a lay-up with 2:36 remaining. The Lions did not shoot well from outside the arc, resulting in a tight game most of the time. However, their accurate free- throw shooting and lockdown defense secured the victory.
The strong home crowd was an important factor in the game, something that has not gone unnoticed by the coaches and players, alike.
“The biggest difference at home for us this year has been the incredible fan support from the TCNJ campus community,” head coach Matt Goldsmith said. “The crowds have been fantastic, the environment has been great, and hopefully the crowd will be rocking again on Tuesday.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., the College will square off against the third seed, New Jersey City University, in Packer Hall and will have a huge audience supporting them. The matchup will be the third consecutive year that these two teams meet in the NJAC playoff tournament. After the 2014-15 season, the sixth-seeded Gothic Knights defeated the third-seeded Lions, 74-60, in Packer Hall. The following year, the fifth seed Lions defeated the then top-seeded Gothic Knights, 92-82, in Jersey City, N.J.
Goldsmith shows extreme confidence in his team coming into the game.
“The biggest thing the team has to do is play our brand of basketball,” Goldsmith said. “Playoff games come down to the ‘little things.’ We always say take care of the small details and the results take care of themselves. If we can focus in, trust our instincts, and continue to do what we have done for most of the year, we should put ourselves in a position to get a good result.”
The Lions are striving for their first conference tournament championship since the 1997-98 season, while the Gothic Knights recently took the title in the 2010-11 season.
(02/14/17 7:25am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their push for the New Jersey Athletic Conference title as they faced off against two conference foes this week. They first traveled to William Paterson University on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and came out victorious for the first time in more than 10 years, finishing on top after a 90-85 shootout.
On Saturday, Feb. 11, they squared off against Montclair State University on the road and conceded to the Red Hawks, losing 70-63.
The men’s basketball team beat the Pioneers on its home court for the first time since 2005 mainly because of senior forward Corey Stanford and junior guard Eric Murdock Jr.’s pinpoint shooting.
Stanford ended the game with a very strong line of 21 points and 17 rebounds. Meanwhile, Murdock Jr. led all scorers with 22 points. The team started furiously and scored 10 points. They led by as much as 13 in the first half, eventually closing out with a 45-39 lead.
The second half proved to be a tougher challenge for the Lions, as the Pioneers gained momentum and went on a 15-3 run. Roadrunners junior guard Dapo Badmos scored six points in the short run. With the game tied at 82, Stanford and Murdock Jr. took over the game, each scoring four points in the game’s final minute.
The late push secured the win. Stanford and Murdock Jr. combined to go 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to preserve the victory. Overall, the team was 21-26 from the free throw line.
“William Paterson has always been a tough place to play for us,” senior
forward Bobby Brackett said. “We never realized it dated back to the 2004-2005 season, so it feels even better knowing that we could finally do it.”
Continuing their trek through New Jersey, the Lions battled Montclair State University on Saturday. They eventually fell, leaving them tied for second place in the conference. The Lions got off to a hot start. However, their defense was not able to return the favor, allowing the Red Hawks to easily score.
The game remained close until the end of the second half when the Red Hawks went on an 11-2 run. The Lions did not counter.
“Montclair played great Saturday,” Brackett said. “They had to win to make sure they were in the playoffs and they played like it. They’re big and physical.”
The notable differences between the two teams were free throw shooting and rebounding. While they were very effective in getting to the stripe against the Pioneers, the Lions only converted half of their eight attempts. In comparison, the Red Hawks went 19-27 and secured their lead. The two teams lead the conference in rebounding, but the Red Hawks was able to secure a 46-35 advantage on the glass.
The Lions return home on Wednesday, Feb. 15, for the regular season finale against Rutgers University-Newark. The match starts at 8 p.m.
(02/07/17 10:03am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions suffered its first loss in about a month on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as they fell 88-74 to Rowan University. The loss was not enough to stop their hot play, however, as they bounced back with an 84-78 victory over No. 7 Ramapo College on Saturday, Feb. 4.
Against the Profs, the Lions came in with a seven-game win streak, playing their best basketball of the year. However, it was the Profs that opened up the game firing on all cylinders. Reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference player of the week sophomore guard Nick DePersia scored 11 points and senior forward Shawn Wilson scored five of his own, giving the Profs an early 16-4 lead.
The Lions answered back behind senior star forward Bobby Brackett, who netted nine points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone before exiting the game due to a knee injury. The Lions still trailed 45-34 at the end of the second quarter.
“Rowan is a very good team, especially at home,” Brackett said. “They score the most in the conference and when they’re playing well, they are a very hard team to beat.”
The Lions guards put on a show in the second half, as senior guard Eric Klacik hit back to back three pointers and junior guard Eric Murdock Jr. scored his 1000th point of his college career, becoming only the 24th player in program history to achieve that feat. Their efforts were not worthwhile in the end, as the Profs were able to connect on their free throws late in the game to seal the deal and complete an 88-74 home victory.
Despite losing against the Profs, the Lions made a very strong statement on Saturday as they were able to upset Ramapo in Packer Hall by a score of 84-78 in one of the most exciting games in recent memory.
“After losing on Wednesday, we knew we had to come out and play our best game on Saturday,” Brackett said. “Ramapo is a top team in the country for a reason, but we believe when we play our best that we’re a top team, too. Fortunately for us, we played well that day and got a huge win.”
The opening 20 minutes were slightly sloppy, but competitive. The Lions connected on just nine of 26 total shots, but were fortunate that five of those were beyond the arc. Freshman Ryan Jensen provided productive minutes off the bench, tallying nine points and securing six rebounds in just 12 minutes. His presence kept the team in the game through the first half, as they only trailed by one.
The Lions offense bursted in the second half. The team shot 69 percent from the floor and an incredible 8-11 from outside range. With fewer than two minutes remaining and leading 76-70, Klacik nailed a clutch three on the Roadrunners, his fourth of the game.
The Lions then converted on their free throws late in the game to seal the deal and finish with an emotional victory. Murdock Jr. led all scorers with 18 points and a career-high 11 assists. Jensen posted a career-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting while junior forward Elias Bermudez finished with 15 points. Klacik added 14 points and sophomore forward Jordan Glover chipped in with nine of his own.
The Lions have three more conference regular season games on their schedule, each one as important as the next. The team is on the road this week. On Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Lions trek up to Wayne, N.J., for a match against the William Paterson University Pioneers. Afterwards, they will play an away match against the Montclair State University Red Hawks on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The team is aiming for a first- place finish in the NJAC, but they know it will not be easy. They remain positive, knowing they can compete with anyone.
“Now that we’re at the final stretch of our season, we feel like we’re playing our best at the right point in the season,” Brackett said. “We have to continue this for the next three games and into the playoffs in order to win the conference.”
(11/15/16 5:33am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions finished off their 2016 season with a tough 17-0 loss against Rowan University on Senior Night last Friday, Nov. 11. The College, coming off two great offensive games, was unable to get in the end zone all game, mainly due to the Profs strong defense.
The first quarter ended with a scoreless tie, seeing only a combined 107 total yards from both the Lions and the Profs.
Rowan broke through first with 13:06 remaining in the opening half, marching down the field for 62 yards on six plays in just three minutes. They were able to capitalize off an interception by defensive back Travelle Curry with a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dante Pinckney to Kevin Lenart, making it a 7-0 game.
The Lions, unable to respond, lost a fumble later in the period when Profs defensive lineman Nick Fromhold forcibly knocked the ball loose and recovered it in Lions territory. The Profs, riding their momentum, moved the ball 37 yards on eight plays to set up a 22-yard field goal by Profs Tyler Knighton, taking a 10-0 lead.
While the game held scoreless for the rest of the half, the Lions came out strong in the third quarter, putting together a strong drive. On third-and-two, junior running back Chad Scott found a hole and sprinted for a 39-yard run after breaking two tackles. The drive was cut short three plays later after an interception by Ryan Brenner gave the ball back to Rowan on their 37 after a 29-yard return.
They would put the game away a couple of minutes when Pinckney threw another touchdown pass, this time to Jamel Smith for a 30-yard score.
The score of 17-0 would hold for the rest of the game, as the Lions were unable to find the endzone even though they had possession of the ball for more than half of the game.
Scott, the focus of the Lions offense, finished with 88 yards on 19 carries. He accounted for almost half of the team’s offensive yards, as Rowan held their opponent to less than 200 total yards.
While the night did not end as planned for the College, it did start off in an emotional way. Prior to kickoff, 13 Lions players were honored as they would be taking the field for the last time in their college career.
The 2016 football senior class include student assistants Sean Carroll and John Magi, kicker/punter No. 1 Colin Cazzetta, defensive backs No. 3 Drew Dickison and No. 17 Jordan Rogers, running back No. 15 Matthew Popek, wide receiver No. 20 Jeff Mattonelli, linebackers No. 35 Erik Wehner and No. 51 Robert Burns, offensive linemen No. 52 Ben Keating and No. 74 Hank Harvey, defensive linemen No. 56 Dan Naples, No. 62 Tom Cilla and No. 90 Abdelrahman Ragab, and kicker No. 97 Brian Nagy.
While it was a tough season for the Lions, they show a lot of promise for next year, as running back Scott returns as well as strong defensive players.
(11/08/16 5:16am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The College’s football team continued its strong play as the Lions defeated Southern Virginia University (SVU) on Saturday, Nov. 5, by a score of 28-25. The team showed incredible resilience as it was able to grind through regulation time, as well as four overtime periods. Senior kicker Brian Nagy was able to end the contest when he struck a 25-yard field goal through the uprights.
While the game was exciting in the second half, it started off slowly. It wasn’t until after a scoreless first quarter that the Lions finally got on the board, finishing off a six-play, 63-yard drive. Starting on their own 37, junior running back Chad Scott, fresh off a historic week, eluded the defense for a 15-yard gain, entering SVU territory.
“Becoming a part of history on such an important day like Homecoming was pretty exciting,” Scott said last week about his record-setting game. “However, us getting the win was even bigger, in my opinion.”
Quarterback Trevor Osler completed a 25-yard pass to senior wide-out Jeff Mattonelli for a big gain. After another Scott rush, Osler connected with junior Khani Glover for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions a 7-0 lead, a score that would hold into halftime.
The Knights tied the game in their first drive after halftime, going 77 yards down the field on nine plays, the last one being a 34-yard run by quarterback Ty Jones.
The Lions were unable to respond, going three-and-out in the next possession and punting. They got a break, however, when sophomore defensive back Anthony Leithauser picked off a pass and took it 23 yards to the house, putting his team up, 14-7. The Knights remained in the game and finally tied the game at 14 with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, a score that would remain until the end of regulation.
In the first overtime, both teams traded field goals, with Nagy converting on a 22-yarder and Knights kicker Sam Horman on a 20-yarder. In the second overtime period, the scoring got more intense. The Lions scored a touchdown on a 25-yard throw from Osler to junior wide receiver Thomas Koenig, followed by a gutsy two-point conversion, extending the lead to 25-18.
Southern Virginia showed they had no intention of quitting as they quickly tied the game with another Jones touchdown from five yards out, and a Simi Moala run for the two-point conversion.
In the fourth period, the College defense held SVU to the 21-yard line, forcing Horman to try another attempt from 38 yards. His kick sailed wide, giving the Lions an opportunity to put the game away. Scott took two carries for 13 yards, which put the Lions in field goal range. On fourth down, Nagy lined up a 25-yard attempt, kicking it through the uprights and officially ending the game.
The Lions were not surprised by their strong performance for the second week in a row, especially as they gained a lot of momentum from their last game.
“I believe our performance has really proven to us what we are truly capable of doing when everyone does their part to the best of their ability,” Scott said of their Homecoming win. “The biggest thing we learned was that we came out from the start of the game fast and ready to go and continued this momentum until the end of the game.”
They look to end their season with another victory when they square off against Rowan University at home on Friday, Nov. 11, on Senior Night. Scott is hopeful as the end of the season nears.
“I think we will now continue to push each other and focus in so that we can perform even better these next two games,” Scott said. “There is always room for improvement, so (in) these next two weeks of practice, we will fix the mistakes that need to be adjusted.”
(11/02/16 11:03pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions picked the best day of the year to seal their first victory of their football season. It was an incredible feat. A squad who had only managed 30 points in their first seven games — all losses — exploded for 42 points against the William Paterson University Pioneers on Saturday, Oct. 30.
The game’s theme was the Lion’s overpowering running game, one that ended up with 221 yards on the day. The main centerpiece of the attack was junior running back Chad Scott, who finished the contest with 137 yards on 29 touches.
His noteworthy statistic however, was the fact that he scored four touchdowns. He joined Nate Woodward ‘76, Joe Clifton ‘87, and Jon Hedgepeth ’03 as the only players ever in the 92-year history of the program to rush for four scores in one game. This was nothing that Scott hasn’t thought about, though, as the fact that he eclipsed 100 yards for the third game this season means he has lofty goals ahead of him.
Both teams started sloppy, as they each had trouble holding onto the football. The Lions lost a pair of fumbles and the Pioneers coughed up the ball as well in the first period. The first score came when opposing quarterback James Waldron dropped back for a short pass to his right but Lions Co-captain Shane Kelley anticipated the play and tipped the ball into his arms, securing the interception and returning it back for a 27-yard touchdown, much to excitement of the crowd.
Midway through the second quarter the Lions went up by two scores after Scott punched in a 3-yard run after a long 67-yard drive. After a score from both sides, the half ended with the Lions ahead 21-7.
The team continued to lead in the second half as Scott scored two more times while the Pioneers only responded once. After another rushing touchdown, this time not by Scott, the Lions had pulled away, scoring a total of 42 points in the game, 12 more than they have had all season long combined. On other side of the ball, Kelley finished with a team high seven tackles and a forced fumble to go along with his pick-six.
The Lions visit Southern Virginia University next Saturday and return home for their season finale on Friday, November 11 at 7 p.m. against Rowan University.
(03/01/16 9:37pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their hot shooting streak against No. 1 seeded New Jersey City University (NJCU) on Wednesday, Feb. 24, as the team was able to surpass the Gothic Knights, 92-82, on their way to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) final against No. 2 Stockton University on Saturday, Feb. 27. A win in the final would have been the first NJAC title for the College since 1988, but the win streak would end there as Stockton was able to fight off the Lions and come out victorious after a close 60-53 victory.
Fresh off from an NJAC All First-Team selection, sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. continued his successful season by producing his best career game as he went 13-22 from the floor for 36 points.
Fortunately for the Lions, it wasn’t just their star player who shot extremely well. The team carried its momentum from the previous win into this game as the Lions hit 10 of their first 12 shots, (7-7 on three-pointers) giving them a 27-8 lead just seven minutes into the game.
While the Gothic Knights fought back and cut down the lead to six with 13 minutes to go, the Lions put the game away, as Murdock hit a pair of free throws and freshman forward Jordan Glover hit yet another three pointer. Glover has been on fire from the outside this season, hitting 15 of his last 19. Junior guard Eric Klacik contributed 20 points and sophomore forward Ryan McDowell also had a strong showing in 21 minutes, racking up four points, six boards and an assist.
The Lions were able to keep their composure the entire game, hitting 25 of the 33 free throws during a highly officiated game that ended with 56 fouls called. The win secured a final game for the Lions against a team that they split the season series with.
“We’ve been shooting the ball really well, obviously, the last couple games,” head coach Matt Goldsmith said in a TCNJ Athletics interview. “I think the biggest piece to it has been execution-wise, I think the guys are starting to see the intricacies of the offense a little bit better. Murdock has been doing an incredible job of controlling and running the point for us, he’s had two great games. We’ve come out to two really hot starts.”
According to the same interview, when asked about the team’s opponent on Saturday, Goldsmith said, “Stockton is the team to beat in the league. They’ve been the team to beat in the league the last three years. They have the experience. We have to take care of the ball, execute early and defend. It’s going to be a battle.”
Goldsmith’s team did get off to a great start and hung in the game during the entire 40 minutes. Trailing by only two with under a minute to go, there was no denying that the Lions gave the 21-6 Stockton team all they could handle. While they could not sink the last-minute shots they needed, the team should be very proud of themselves for the finest season the program has seen in 20 years.
More importantly, the team will return 16 of its 17 players, including senior forward Bobby Brackett, who did not play all year due to an injury.
For a team who started with a new head coach and had its best player injured before the regular season, the Lions played incredibly well and exceeded all sorts of expectations.
(02/23/16 9:54pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions clinched a spot in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament as the fifth seed after an incredible finish against Kean University on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The team had control of its own destiny, meaning that the Lions would automatically make the playoffs with a win. However, that win did not come easy, as Kean fought hard the entire game.
Sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. was as clutch as ever as he scored the last six points for the Lions. First, he banked in a layup with 1:14 remaining to break a 60-60 tie.
Kean responded quickly with a three-pointer to give his Cougars a 63-62 lead. The Lions’s sophomore was then fouled and consequently made his two free throws to regain the lead, but Kean was able to respond again, as a Cougar’s players was able to knock down Murdock’s free throws, leaving 18 seconds on the clock.
Murdock got the last laugh, however, as he knocked in the game-winning jumper with two seconds left on the clock to give first-year head coach Matthew Goldsmith his first taste of an NJAC post-season.
“Eric has been tremendous this year,” Goldsmith said. “In the game, his presence gives everyone on our roster more confidence. (Murdock’s) leadership, both on and off the court, has been terrific, as well. It is hard to describe just how important he is to this team. To have your best player also be one of your hardest workers, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from Eric this year. Without him, we would not be in the NJAC playoffs this weekend.”
The Lions then traveled to Mahwah, N.J., on Saturday, Feb. 20, for the first round of the NJAC tournament to compete against Ramapo College.
“Ramapo is a great team who loves to play an up tempo game,” Goldsmith said. “We have to control the tempo as much as we can by having great shot selection and taking care of the basketball. I think our biggest issue the first two match-ups was having way too many turnovers. It is very challenging to simulate their athleticism and defensive pressure in practice on a daily basis but having played them so recently, I think we will be able to adjust to the pressure quicker.”
It quickly became the highest scoring game for the Lions, as they shot extremely well since tip-off.
Tallying a season-high 105 points in the contest, the team had five players in double figures. No two players scored more than the team’s star forwards, sophomore forward Elias Bermudez and freshman forward Jordan Glover. Bermudez registered a career-high 25 points on 12-of-14 shooting and Glover went an incredible 7-8 from the floor, scoring 21 points as all his shots were from behind the arc. Murdock made his contributions felt as he put up a triple double, with one point, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.
The Lions advance to the championship semifinals where they’ll face New Jersey City University on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The College split the regular season series with the Gothic Knights, winning in Jersey City, 76-74, on Saturday, Jan. 9, before falling on Saturday, Feb. 6, 81-56, in Packer Hall.
(02/19/16 1:30am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their late season push for a playoff spot in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) with two games in the last week. The College first faced off against Ramapo College at home on Wednesday, Feb. 10, and then traveled to Wayne, N.J., to battle William Paterson University on Saturday, Feb. 13.
In their first game of the week, the Lions came out with a great moral victory after being defeated, 78-77, in an overtime thriller. Ramapo, who is 11-5 in NJAC play, has been a strong team all season. The Lions took a 77-76 lead with 26 seconds remaining in overtime when sophomore guard and captain Eric Murdock, Jr. made a layup. Ramapo sophomore Thomas Bonacum, who led all scorers with 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, was then fouled with eight seconds remaining. He converted both free throws to put the Roadrunners up by a point.
On the ensuing possession, junior guard and fellow captain Eric Klacik released the potential game-winner that appeared destined for the bottom of the net. But the ball rimmed out to end a thrilling conference showdown that was enjoyed by everyone in attendance.
Murdock led the Lions with 18 points and six assists, while Klacik finished with 15. The duo teamed up for seven three-point field goals in the game. Junior guard Nick Alaimo, who has been great all year off the bench, finished with 12 points, while freshman guard Kevin Bloodgood also reached double figures with 11 points in the game.
“I think I did a pretty good job with my role of coming off the bench this year,” Alaimo said. “Last year, I would get minutes here and there, but now that I’m a little older, I know my role better and am more comfortable. This allows me to play more consistently and with a lot of energy each game ready to contribute.”
Without a doubt, his contributions have led to the Lions’ success this year.
Still in pursuit of a playoff spot, the Lions squared off against William Paterson on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the team, the Pioneers controlled every facet of the game and came away with an 83-47 home win.
While the first half was relatively close at 36-23, with William Paterson in the lead, a 47-24 second period put the Lions away, officially classifying the game as a blowout. The Pioneers were strong on both sides of the ball, starting the game 12-0 and forcing 18 turnovers throughout the day.
Even with the devastating loss, the Lions sit at fifth place in the NJAC, and, as of now, would make the playoffs since the top six teams advance. Fortunately for the team, they can keep it simple and advance to the playoffs by winning their last game of the season against Kean University on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
“We really control our own destiny, which is a great feeling,” Alaimo said. “ We just talk about going out and playing 40 minutes of TCNJ basketball. If we win our last two games, we don’t have to worry about other teams and ‘what if’ scenarios. Controlling our own destiny is a good feeling and we want to do everything possible to play as long as possible.”
(02/09/16 8:47pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their hunt for a playoff spot with three more New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games in a span of six days and came out with a 2-1 record.
This stretch was particularly difficult because of the traveling, as they beat Montclair State University, 93-76, at home on Monday, Feb. 1, and then traveled to Glassboro, N.J., and scored another win against Rowan University on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 90-82. The team finally returned home to go against New Jersey City University on Saturday, Feb. 6, losing, 81-56.
With their win against Montclair, the Lions were finally able to have a winning NJAC record at 7-6. The team’s offense was firing all day, as they finished with 93 points.
“We wanted to get off to a strong start after digging ourselves in a hole the last couple of games,” head coach Matt Goldsmith said.
Sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. continued the success he’s been having all season with a near triple-double, netting 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Five other players from the College reached double-figures scoring after a strong finish in the second half. Once they finally broke through, the team never looked back as they finished the contest with a 93-76 victory.
The Lions continued their strong offensive performance as they beat Rowan, 90-82, at home on the night of Wednesday, Feb. 3.
This time, it was the other guard named Eric who led the team in scoring, as junior Eric Klacik finished with 21 points on a career-high five three-pointers made.
When asked about his two guards with one name, Goldsmith said he was very proud of what they have done.
“They’ve been great all year,” Goldsmith said. “They stepped up as captains and have completely led this team to where we are now.”
He added that he’s very excited for next year as they both will continue to lead the team in the future.
After coming back home for their Saturday game, the Lions squared off against New Jersey City University, the best team in the NJAC. Due to New Jersey City’s strong squad and the team’s tough road schedule, the Lions fell, 81-56.
The game had a playoff feel to it early on. The Gothic Knights raced out to 20-8, but Murdock imposed his will at both ends of the floor to carve into the deficit. The College kept pace, but had trouble finishing, shooting just 33 percent in the period.
The College continues a game ahead of sixth-place Montclair State University in the NJAC standings and since the top six teams make the playoffs, the Lions are doing just fine. They plan to improve their 8-7 NJAC record on Wednesday, Feb. 10, as they take on Ramapo College in Packer Hall.
(02/02/16 9:38pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions finished a disappointing week with two very tough, close losses against fellow New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponents.
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, at home, the Stockton University Ospreys were able to beat up on the Lions for most of the game. While getting off to a 21-8 start, the Ospreys were able to continue playing well during the first half and took a 26-22 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Ospreys continued to play strong basketball, stretching the lead to 56-35. However, after a pair of three-point field goals from junior captain Eric Klacik and two free throws from sophomore forward Elias Bermudez, the lead was cut to 13 points with 7:28 left to play.
A couple of minutes later, another three points by Klacik kept the Lions at bay as the game entered the final minutes. Klacik has made a point of being a leader on both sides of the ball.
“My impact this year has been focused on being a leader vocally and how I play,” Klacik said. “I also put a lot of my effort in on the defensive end to make sure we are working together.”
He ended the game with 17 points on five of nine shooting, but it was not enough, as the Ospreys maintained the lead and went home with a 77-68 victory.
Looking to shake off their previous loss, the Lions traveled to Newark, N.J., to square off against Rutgers-Newark University. Unfortunately for the College, the team was unable to get off to a strong start once again, shooting just 28 percent from the field in the first half and giving the Lions a 31-24 deficit at the break.
The Scarlet Raiders continued to hold the lead for the rest of the game, and even when the Lions cut it to three points, the Raiders responded with a 13-3 run. Trailing by six with 1:27 remaining, Bermudez knocked down a pair of free throws. After a defensive stop, guard Eric Murdock, Jr. hit a jumper in the paint to close the gap to 59-57 with 33 seconds left on the clock. Scarlet Raider senior guard John Snow hit three free throws down the stretch to hold off the Lions and secure the home win.
After falling in two consecutive games due to slow first half starts, both players and coaches know what they have to do to be able to make the playoffs.
“One main adjustment we need to make is getting off to a good start each and every game,” Klacik said. “We have proven that we can pull off comebacks, but that’s not the game we want to play. If we can jump out on teams early, then I believe we are talented enough to be very successful. One other adjustment is playing a complete game of basketball for 40 minutes. When we play a complete 40, we are tough to beat.”
(01/26/16 9:08pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
During Winter Break, while most of the players’ classmates and peers were home relaxing and preparing themselves for the tough spring semester, the College’s men’s basketball team kept very busy. Having played 12 games since the beginning of December, the team has been all around the state playing different NJAC opponents, including a game against John Jay College of New York.
They will round out the month of January with a home game against Stockton University on Wednesday, Jan. 27, and a game against Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, Jan. 30. So far, the team sits at a strong 11-6 overall record, while being 6-4 in NJAC play, placing them fifth in the conference standings.
Starting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Lions fell to Skidmore College by a score of 69-57. A late first half run by the Thoroughbreds proved too much of a lead to come back from — even with a strong performance by the team’s captains, junior guard Eric Klacik and sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr., who scored 20 and 17 points, respectively. The next day, the team was able to bounce back in a strong way by defeating Stockton University, 76-70, led by sophomore forward Elias Bermudez’s 10 and 12 double-double.
Next on the schedule was the season’s first matchup against Rutgers-Newark, a very closely contested game that came down to the last minutes, resulting in a 76-70 Lions’ loss.
This game motivated the Lions, as it led to a three game winning streak against Rowan University and John Jay College on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham Monday, Jan. 4. Freshman forward Jordan Glover played a role in each game, averaging almost 12 points a game and being a huge presence on defense. Glover came into the College with huge expectations and he has found, along with the rest of the team, that he fits in perfectly.
“I just come out every game with the thought of winning a national championship,” Glover said. “I play my role and I try to motivate my teammates around me to keep striving for that one goal. I take open shots when I have them and I try my best to grab every rebound. The coaching staff around me gives me a lot of confidence to guard some of the best wings in the NJAC and they have made me feel at home here at TCNJ.”
To begin the second half of the season, the Lions started a stretch of four consecutive games against fellow NJAC opponents. The team came out of the stretch at an even 2-2, with wins against New Jersey City University and Kean University and loses against Ramapo College and William Paterson University. One constant, however, was the strong play of Murdock, who consistently put up big all-around numbers throughout the game. It’s clear that it is his team and that they will go as far as he takes them, for he controls the ball, the pace and the perimeter at all times.
Just in time for the beginning of classes, the Lions have regrouped and won their last two games by an average of almost 22 points per game. In their 23-point victory against Baruch College, the Lions had four players in double-digit scoring. Two days later, in a 20-point blowout against Rutgers-Camden, the Lions saw some great things from unexpected players. Junior and guard Nick Alaimo and freshman Kevin Bloodgood, both guards contributed 16 and 18 points, respectively. This is a strong sign for the team, now certain that players other than Murdock, and Glover can contribute to victories.
With the season’s end in sight, the goal is clear for the team and that is to make the NJAC playoffs. All the players, including Glover, know that they must make improvements and give maximum effort as they hunt down a playoff spot.
“Our coaches want us to come out and play smarter than our opponents,” Glover said. “We prepare for every game like it’s a championship game and our coaches tells us to play every game like it’s our last. Coach Goldsmith is a one of kind and he knows what it takes to win as a player and as a coach.”
The Lions face Stockton University at home on Wednesday, Jan. 27, their second game in a nine consecutive matchup streak against fellow NJAC opponents.
(12/01/15 10:38pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
After starting the season, 1-1, the Lions came home and battled Western Connecticut State University for a 83-82 overtime win on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The team followed by splitting their first two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games of the year — falling to Montclair State University, 83-63, on Saturday, Nov. 21, and beating Rutgers-Camden University, 93-66, on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
In the game against the Pioneers, the Lions gave the crowd a great start to the season in their first home game of the year. The Lions stayed with the Colonials all throughout, with the game coming down to the wire. Down two points with 13 seconds left in the game, sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. drove to the rim and drew contact, sending him to the charity stripe.
He was able to connect with both to send the game into overtime, where the College picked up the win, 83-82, over a cheering crowd. Murdock finished with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
For their first NJAC contest of the year, the Lions traveled to Montclair to face a 1-0 Red Hawks squad. Similar to their last game, the Lions were down at the half, this time by 16 points. Even with the help of junior guard, captain Eric Klacik’s pair of three pointers in the second half, his team wasn’t able to fight off Montclair as the final score was 83-63.
In their second NJAC game, the Lions were able to bounce back in a strong way against Rutgers-Camden with a convincing 93-66 victory. The team was leading at the half by a huge margin of 50-21, a period where three Lions scored in double digits. Murdock scored 15 in the first half and ended with 26 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his very strong start to the season.
A few weeks prior, Murdock was named to the All-Tournament Team of the Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament.
“First, I would like to say that it was an honor to represent TCNJ and the basketball program on the All-Tournament Team,” Murdock said. “The early success comes from the confidence that my teammates and coaches have in me to lead the team. Being a starter as a freshman and now starting as a sophomore has given me confidence within myself to make the right plays and be a vocal leader on the floor.”
The Lions’ next game is on Tuesday, Dec. 1, against Skidmore College at home.
(11/18/15 12:41am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions’ men’s basketball team opened up their 2015-16 season with a tough loss in the first game of Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Nov. 13, against Salve Regina by a score of 80-79. The team rebounded against Wheelock College on Saturday, Nov. 14, coming up with the 89-65 win.
While the team started off slow against Salve Regina in the first half, they picked up after ending the first half down, 49-40. They were able to start the second period off hot, erasing the nine-point deficit in less than five minutes.
At one point the Lions took the lead, thanks to their very tough defense that held Salve Regina scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half. For the rest of the half, both teams battled back and forth, trading shots until the end of the game.
However, the team ended up on the wrong side of the one point margin, coming up just short of victory in the last seconds.
Things look bright for the team, though, as sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr., posted a strong stat line with 19 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals. The team also got a great contribution from freshman Kevin Bloodgood, who scored 12 points off the bench.
In the second day of the Tip-Off Tournament, the Lions faced off against Wheelock College and bounced back in a strong way, posting their highest scoring total since the 2011-12 season.
The team was hot from the beginning, as they took a nine-point lead and kept the momentum of the game into halftime.
After the break, the Lions showed no sign of letting up as they scored 51 points in the second half, with the result of the game ending up as 89-65.
Murdock put up yet another strong stat line, recording 19 points, six assists and three rebounds, earning him an All-Tournament Team spot. More importantly, another Lions freshman stepped up with a strong game, this time it being 6’5” forward Jordan Glover, who put up a resounding 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The Lions hope to continue this strong play in their home opener this Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. against Western Connecticut State in Packer Hall Gymnasium.
(11/11/15 12:56am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The College’s men’s basketball team will start its 2015-16 season this Friday, Nov. 13 as it competes in the Wheaton College Tournament in Norton, Mass.
Their first game is a matchup against Salve Regina University, and the following day they will square off against the winner of the Wheelock College vs. Wheaton College game. After the Lions return home, preparation for the 23-game regular season begins.
The two captains for the team this year will be junior guard Erik Klacik and senior forward Bobby Brackett. Unfortunately for the team, Brackett, who lead the team in scoring and rebounding last season, will not be able to play all season as he suffered a torn ACL this past June and is still recovering. Looking to fill his shoes is his brother, Nick, and 6’7” sophomore center Steven Kelly.
The squad returns with many of its starters, including guards Klacik and sophomore Eric Murdock, Jr. as well as sophomore forward Elias Bermudez. The returning starters will look toward their freshmen to contribute to the team and help them stay competitive.
Junior guard Alex Cirlincione looks to continue playing a big role on the team for his third consecutive year.
“For the upcoming season, I’m looking to contribute in any way the team needs me to,” Cirlincione said. “As an upperclassman, I can bring leadership and knowledge to the team, which requires me to be more vocal and assertive.”
The team looks to be very competitive once again in the NJAC, this year lead by Matt Goldsmith, replacing Kelly Williams, ’93, as the team’s head coach last spring. Williams now serves as the senior associate director of athletics for external affairs at the College. Goldsmith, who graduated from and coached for Amherst College, returns to his home state looking for success with the team this season.
Cirlincione thinks the team can use a lot of last year’s experience.
“As a team, I expect us to continue to improve from where we left off last year and be the best team in the conference,” he said. “We believe we can beat any team we play, and we’re looking to prove that this year. In order for us to be successful, we have to play with confidence and maintain the same team chemistry we had last year.”
Many of the players share this mentality and are very hopeful about the new season.
(11/03/15 11:06pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The College’s men’s soccer team played their last game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 29, in Glassboro, N.J., against conference rival Rowan University in hopes of locking up a playoff spot. The team came up short in the end, falling 2-1 to the Profs.
The team was confident after four straight conference victories. A win here would secure them as one of the six teams heading for the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament.
Even with the momentum, the Lions could not capitalize and were held scoreless in the first half. Their strong defense kept the opposing Profs off the scoreboard, as well.
Junior goalkeeper Jake Nesteruk was solid, facing eight shots on goal. The game was tied at zero until freshman midfielder Nick Sample was able to collect a rebound off of sophomore forward Michael Kassak’s shot to put the Lions up, 1-0.
With Sample’s goal, the Lions gained back their momentum and took a strong lead. It was not until almost seven minutes left in regulation that the Profs tied the game up with a goal from their freshman forward Derick Carpio.
Since both teams were unable to score in the waning minutes, the game went to sudden death overtime, where the first to score came out victorious. As the period was closing, the Profs were able to win it when their own Shane Kohler connected on a penalty kick, sending Rowan to the playoffs.
It was the Lions’ fifth conference loss and fifth overall this season. Senior captain, defenseman Greg Kaye said that while the loss was heartbreaking, the team still has hope.
“It’s a shame that it ended the way it did, but having experienced these feelings will make the team push harder for a more successful year next year,” Kaye said.
The captain was proud of the season his team had and is looking forward to leaving a strong group for next year. Junior forward Sean Etheridge, who spent a majority of the season hurt, will look to have an even bigger role next year on the team.
“I think we will do better... we had a good season this year, much better than last year, and where we fell short... we will be able to adjust in the offseason,” Etheridge said.
The College ends the season undefeated in non-conference play, and 4-5 in the NJAC. The conference was stiff with competition, but if the team’s record is a sign for the future, the Lions can keep getting stronger.
(10/30/15 2:37pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their chase for the postseason with another NJAC game, on the road against New Jersey City University on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Having won their last two conference games, the team looked to keep their momentum going as the season winds down.
While the Gothic Knights were able to get on the board first, the Lions quickly responded with a goal by freshman defenseman Joerg Jauk off a bad clearing attempt by the opposition. Less than two minutes later, sophomore forward Michael Kassak assisted freshman defender Nick Zolofra to bring the team up by one goal. Senior defenseman Greg Kaye gave the Lions more of a cushion with a third goal right before the end of the half.
While the Knights opened the half with a score of their own, the Lions stayed true to their game and 12 minutes later, when junior midfielder, captain Nick Costelloe scored his 11th goal of the year to put the game away.
On the defensive side, senior goalkeeper Jake Nesteruk tied a season high with six saves on the day.
The next test for the Lions was the William Paterson Pioneers, on Saturday, Oct. 24, at home, and the team did not disappoint.
In an emotional and important game, the team’s six seniors played the last home game of their college careers. They understood what the game meant, for the only way the Lions can make the playoffs is by winning the last two NJAC games, that included the Homecoming weekend game, in which they prevailed with a 4-3 win.
“We knew this was a big one for us, especially it being the last home game for the seniors,” Costelloe said. “I’m very happy we played well and got the win.”
It was one of those seniors, defender Andrew Kimball, that got the Lions on the board with a goal on an assist from Jauk.
While the Pioneers tied the game before halftime, the Lions netted three quick goals at the beginning of the second half to pull the game wide open. Costelloe had another successful match, scoring two goals in succession before Nick Provenzano made the game, 4-1.
The Pioneers quietly made a comeback to bring the game within one, but the Lions’ defense held on for the victory.
The team continues to play for its season on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Rowan University, where a win guarantees a playoff berth.
(10/21/15 12:28am)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The men’s soccer team continued their regular season with three games in the last two weeks. Now with only three games left in the season, the Lions stand with an 8-4-2 record, including being 2-4 in NJAC play.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the College squared off against rival Montclair State University at home and competed neck and neck for most of the game. Montclair scored their three goals sporadically, slowly chipping away and separating themselves from the Lions. The final score was 3-0, but the Lions play was consistent throughout the match, despite what the scoreboard indicated.
Before the game, when asked about their recent struggles, junior goalkeeper, Jake Nesteruk, said the team needs to outperform what they’ve been doing.
“In terms of getting back into our earlier form, it just comes down to admitting we haven’t been our best, myself included, and understanding when and why in games we are making certain mistakes,” Nesteruk said.
The team seemed to be motivated after the loss, returning to their strong play from earlier in the year.
The Lions were able to prevail over Rutgers-Camden at home on Wednesday, Oct. 14, by a score of 1-0. Captain, junior Nick Costelloe, continued his brilliant season with a goal 10 minutes into the second half. The Lions were able to hold the lead after Rutgers-Camden senior Grant Taylor’s penalty kick bounced off the post.
With the motivation from the Rutgers-Camden win, the Lions traveled to Mahwah, N.J., on Saturday, Oct. 17, to face off against Ramapo College. Looking for their second NJAC win, the Lions were in full force throughout the game. Costelloe netted two goals, bringing his season total to 10.
It was the strong second half play from the team that made the difference, when they scored three goals after halftime. Junior forward Sean Etheridge and senior defenseman Greg Kaye were also able to score, and keeper Nesteruk recorded six saves.
Nesteruk thinks this type of play is the key to scoring more wins for the rest of the season.
“It just comes down to maintaining the intensity in training and realizing we have plenty of season left,” he said.
The Lions will play against New Jersey City University on Wednesday, Oct. 21. They plan to continue their strong NJAC play for the rest of the year.
(10/06/15 9:16pm)
By Otto Gomez
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their season on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in a road conference game against Stockton University. While the team started out very well in the beginning of the season, inter-conference play has not boded well for them.
While undefeated outside of conference, the 3-1 loss against the Stockton Ospreys brought the team down to 0-3 against NJAC competition. The Ospreys moved to 2-1 against conference teams after Wednesday’s win, reaching an 8-3 overall record.
The game was similar to the Lions’ last loss, a 4-1 upset against Kean University on Saturday, Sept. 26. Both losses came with an early score from the opposition, resulting in a loss of momentum. Stockton was able to net a goal in the 16th minute. It was not even 10 minutes later, however, that the Lions responded with a goal of their own. Junior captain and midfielder Nick Costelloe was able to head in a pass from senior defenseman Greg Kaye to tie the game.
“Personally, I think every player on our team knows their role this year, and everyone is contributing,” Costelloe said when asked about what individual players can do to stop the losing streak and bring back the momentum from earlier in the season. “I’m excited with this group and I just hope to continue to bring energy that got the team going and help grind out wins.”
As much as Costelloe can do offensively, it was not enough in the end as the Ospreys were able to score twice more in the second half to close the game decisively. While the Lions only let up four shots on goal, they committed 15 penalties overall, leading to Stockton’s successful offense.
It does not get easier for the Lions in the near future, for they face yet another conference opponent, Montclair State University, at home this Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Both teams have more time to rest and prepare for the anticipated matchup after the game was rescheduled due to heavy rain. Tenth-ranked Montclair will bring everything they have for this NJAC bout. The game will take place under the lights at Lions’ Stadium at 7:30 p.m.