BOX SCORE

UNION, N.J. – William Paterson (8-8-1, 4-4-1 NJAC) clinched a berth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Men's Soccer Tournament with a 4-1 victory at Kean (9-10, 4-5 NJAC) Oct. 24 in the regular-season finale.

Fourth-seeded William Paterson will host fifth-seeded Rowan for an opening-round match Saturday, Oct. 27, at 1:00 p.m. at Pioneer Soccer Park.  The winner will advance to the semifinals and will play at top-seeded Montclair State Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Senior Michael Encarnacion (Franklin, N.J./Passaic County Tech) converted his first of two penalty kicks on the night, handing WP a 1-0 edge in the 27th minute.  Less than eight minutes later, senior David Chase (Randolph, N.J./Morristown) sent a free kick to classmate Andrew Tauriello (Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional), who headed the ball to freshman Mike Conte (Franklin, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional).  Conte knocked it in for his second goal of the season and a 2-0 edge at the 34:01 mark.  Encarnacion once again stepped to the penalty spot, this time in the 39th minute, and scored his second PK of the half to allow the Pioneers to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.

The Cougars got one of the goals back in the 51st minute when Erickson Simeon headed in Pat Foley's cross.  Chase finished the scoring 1:51 before the end of the match, sending a 37-yard free kick into the back of the net.

WP goalkeeper Santiago Mesa (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Tech) made four saves, and Kean's Tyler Callahan finished with five stops.

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