Kutztown, PA (9/04/01) - Senior midfielder LAURA POPES (W. Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) scored two second half goals, but it was not enough to overcome and early three-goal deficit as Montclair State dropped its 2001 season opener to Kutztown, 3-2 on Tuesday evening.

Mariela Garcia (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) assisted on both scores for the Red Hawks (0-1), who fell behind 3-0 in the first 45 minutes of the game.

Kutztown's LAUREN BERDICH gave the host school a 1-0 lead with 19:28 to play and extended the advantage to two goals with her second tally eight minutes later. RACHEL GLADFELTER's score with 24:05 left in the game made it 3-0 before Popes tallied her two scores, the first with 13:28 left and the second with 4:48 to go.

TRISHA WINKLE (Forked River, NJ/Lacey Township) made 10 saves in goal for Montclair, which was outshot 19-14 in the contest.