Perhaps you've noticed -- but in case you haven't -- the Roadrunner Men's Soccer team has begun making a nice late-reason run.

The Runners, coached by veteran George Hobbins, are putting it all together following Saturday's solid 4-1 win over traditional power Brookdale at home. The win was their fifth straight and improved their overall record to 9-5-1 as they set their sights on the upcoming Region 19 / North Atlantic Tournament.

"We have some really good players, and now they are starting to come together as a team," said Coach Hobbins recently. "We've had some struggles this season, but the players, with the help of our coaching staff, are turning this around."

Indeed. Jacob Garrett scored the Runners' first goal at 28 minutes, but the Jersey Blues used a late score by Thomas Valinotti to force a 1-1 tie at halftime.

No worries, however. as Robert Piontkowski snapped the tie with a goal via penalty kick early in the second half followed by two key scores from Germaine Okeke to seal the outcome. Piontkowski and Okeke have been reliable throughout the season -- Piontkowski now has 10 goals, including four game-winners, while the surging Okeke has booted home 5 goals and has 14 points in the campaign.

Improving freshman Kevin Wall posted the shutout in goal, stopping 5 of 6 shots that he faced in just his third game of the season.

The Runners seek their sixth straight when they host Atlantic Cape Oct. 15th in a 3:30 pm kickoff. The Runners own a 7-4-1 mark in the conference and hope to repeat last season's post-season success when they qualified for the NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.