Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (7-1-1, 1-0-0 NJAC) opened up NJAC play on Saturday afternoon, with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kean University (5-3-0, 0-1-0 NJAC). Ervin Gjeli (Hasbrouck Heights/Hasbrouck Hts.) scored the game winner off his own rebound to give the Ospreys the victory.
 
Stockton broke out early in the first half with a pair of goals. Max Bond (Cherry Hill/Cherry Hill West) scored his second goal of the season at 9:20 for a 1-0 lead. Larry Abanilla (Union/Union Catholic) sent a cross form the right wing where Bond volleyed it home for the goal.
 
19 minutes later, John Maxted (Middletown/Middletown North) potted his third marker of the year, again with an assist from Abanilla, for the 2-0 margin. Abanilla centered the ball where it found Maxted for the tally.
 
The Cougars responded with two goals of their own to knot the contest at 2-2. In the 36th minute of the first half, Dylan Evande tapped in a goal off a corner kick from Alex Nicol to slice the lead to 2-1. Less than six minutes later, Nicol converted a penalty kick and the game was deadlocked at 2-2 going into the break.
 
The teams tightened up on defense during the final period, until Gjeli broke the tie at 68:59 of the game. After a foul, Gjeli took the ensuing penalty kick. His initial shot was kicked out, but the rebound came back to the junior, who made it count for the 3-2 lead.
 
From there Stockton defense allowed just one shot on net that Stockton goalkeeper Dino Gromitsaris (Bordentown/Bordentown) saved with 1:47 remaining to preserve the win. Gromitsaris was the difference in the game making eight saves in earning the victory.
 
Cougars net minder Dillon Konzelmann kicked out two shots.
 
Stockton will have a week off until the Ospreys face Rutgers-Newark next Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 1pm.