Box Score Video Highlights

WAYNE, N.J. – A late Pioneer rally fell short as the William Paterson men's soccer team (5-3-2, 0-2-1 NJAC) suffered a 5-4 loss to Richard Stockton (6-2-1, 2-1 NJAC) on Homecoming, Sept. 28.

Junior back Marcus Hackett (Montclair, N.J./Immaculate Conception) struck first at the 5:49 mark when he found a pass in the middle from senior forward Hugh Riley (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) and bent a shot into the right corner to give WP a 1-0 lead.

The Ospreys evened the score less than two minutes later as Vinnie Puglia directed a free kick from Dominic Nocito into the net. Anthony Colofranson gave Richard Stockton a 2-1 lead in the 27th minute, sending a pass from Matt Jenne off the goalkeeper's hand and into the bottom right corner.

In the 35th minute, senior midfielder Matt Nigro (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) blasted a free kick through the defensive wall for an unassisted goal to bring the score to 2-2.

Richard Stockton struck again at the 43:09 mark when Clevon McPherson found the ball in a scramble in the middle after a Nocito corner kick to give the Ospreys a 3-2 lead. In the 56th minute, Jenne sent Colofranson on a breakaway, putting Stockton up by two goals.

The Pioneers cut the lead to one when sophomore midfielder Sean Neal (Franklin, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) found a Karl Schroeder (Long Valley, N.J./Gill St. Bernard's) pass and shot it to the lower left corner at the 70:58 mark.

In the 81st minute, Jenne connected with Colofranson for the third time of the game when Colofranson sent a shot from the left side into the right corner to complete the hat trick and give the Ospreys a 5-3 lead.

Hackett led the Pioneers' late rally, finding a pass from Schroeder in a scramble in the middle at the 87:31 mark for his second goal of the game, bringing the score to 5-4. However, Richard Stockton was able to hold off the surging Pioneers and on to the lead.

Freshman goalkeeper Matt Hernandez (Fort Lee, N.J./Fort Lee) did not make a save for WP, while Bob Millar made five stops for Richard Stockton.

William Paterson will travel to Ramapo on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 3:00 p.m.

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