EWING, N.J. (9/26/15) – The Kean University men's soccer team scored four unanswered goals on its way to a 4-1 triumph over The College of New Jersey in the Cougars' NJAC opener on Saturday. Four different players found the back of the net for Kean, which is now 9-1 on the season.

The loss knocked the Lions down to 6-2-2 on the year and 0-2 in the conference.

Nick Provenzano opened the scoring in the game with a rebound goal at 24:50. It looked like it might turn out to be the only goal of the half and TCNJ was in position to take the lead into the break.

But with less than two minutes to go, Kenny Rocha (pictured left) used the same formula – knocking in a rebound off the goaltender – to tie the game at one at the end of the first. It was his first goal of the season.

The Cougars were outplayed in the first half, as they were outshot 10-5 in the first 45. But the game underwent quite a turnaround in the second period:

The Kean defense (namely Steven Osores, Rafal Ciepiela , Eder Solano and Alex Noriega) held the Lions to just one second period shot, allowing the Cougars to rack up a 12-1 advantage there and a 5-1 count in corner kicks. 

The Cougars made those statistics work for them. First, Robert Barrera slipped Sev Kherlopian a pass through a crowd for the go-ahead goal just two minutes into the period. It was the sophomore's third goal of the year.

Late in the game, Kean scored two insurance goals to cement their victory. Kevin Olaya converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute and three minutes later Vaughn Cusano crossed the ball to Timofei Kharisov for the fourth and final goal of the game.

Freshman Chidi Iloka earned his sixth-straight win on goal for Kean and made four saves in the victorious effort.

The Cougars will remain on the road to tangle with New Jersey City University on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Jersey City.