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FH111203
1
New England College NEC (12-7)
7
Winner Montclair State MSU (15-4)
New England College NEC
(12-7)
1
Final
7
Montclair State MSU
(15-4)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
New England College NEC 1 0 1
Montclair State MSU 4 3 7

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Field Hockey Advances in NCAA Tournament, Tops New England College

Upper Montclair, NJ - Senior midfielder MEGAN ULICNY scored two goals as Montclair State defeated New England College, 7-1, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament at Sprague Field. 

With the win, the Red Hawks (15-4) advance to the second round on Saturday, November 15, where they will face Middlebury College at 10:00 am in Middlebury, Vermont. 

Eight different players recorded at least one point for Montclair State, which is making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Jessica Hanson had a goal for the Pilgrims (12-7), who were making their fifth appearance and fell to 4-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament games. 

Ulicny, the NJAC Midfielder of the Year, put Montclair State on the board early as she notched her 16th goal of the season off a penalty corner at the 4:42 mark. Senior SARAH LEVINE extended the lead to 2-0 just over 12 minutes in as she tipped-in a pass from the right side. Just over a minute later, Ulicny made in 3-0 as she controlled a loose ball and fired a shot from five yards out past Cassandra Hudson. Ulicny extended her Montclair State single-season record to 53 points. 

"The first goal helped set the tone for us," said Ulicny. "Scoring first, especially off that first corner, just picked everyone up." 

Junior AMANDA PARK put MSU ahead by four at the 15:34 mark with her first marker of the season. Hanson finally snapped the Red Hawk streak as she deflected in a shot by Megan Simula to cut the deficit to 4-1 just before the half ended. It was Hanson's team-leading 13th goal of the year. 

In the second half, the Red Hawks restored the lead to 5-1 3:14 into the period as freshman JEN SOSS, one of four MSU players to score a goal and an assist, notched her eight of the year, knocking a shot from 10 yards out inside the lower right post. LEA SMITH and Levine then combined on a pretty give-and-go play with Smith getting the score - her eighth of the season at 43:54. 

"It's always good to score and help your team out in any way," said Smith, one of seven MSU seniors who have been instrumental in the Red Hawks' success, culminating in this first appearance in the national tournament. "We had a lot of excitement before the game, but once we were able to score those goals early, we knew it would be our day." 

Junior defender LISA SMICKLO capped the Red Hawk scoring at 54:55 as she flipped as the pass from Soss to the upper part of the cage. For Smicklo, it was her seventh goal of 2003. 

The Red Hawks, who also tied the single-season record for wins in a season set in 2001, dominated most of the game, outshooting New England College, 26-2, and held a 10-1 advantage in penalty corners. Hudson finished with 13 saves for NEC, while TRISHA WINKLE had one save in the contest for Montclair State. 

"I was impressed with the way we played," said Montclair State second-year head coach Beth Gottung. "I was a little nervous that with all of the excitement of being here, we would be a little flat, but they exceeded all of my expectations."
 
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