Montclair, NJ - Sophomore attacker JOHN DELLA PESCA (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) scored four times, including three in the fourth quarter as second-seeded Montclair State erupted for nine goals in the final period to defeat third-seeded Richard Stockton, 14-9, in the semifinals of the Knickerbocker Lacrosse Conference Tournament at Sprague Field on Wednesday evening.

KEVIN GONDRES (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) added a goal and four assists for the Red Hawks (12-2), who now advance to the championship game against top-seeded and three-time defending league champion Stevens Tech on Saturday, May 1 in Hoboken. It will be the second meeting between the teams this season as the Ducks routed MSU, 20-6 at home on April 10. Stevens advanced with a 21-3 thrashing of third-seeded Manhattanville.

Jeff Martin (Lincoln Park, NJ/Boonton) had four goals and an assist for Richard Stockton (7-7), which fell to MSU for the second time this season. Montclair posted an 8-7 victory in Pomona on April 7th.
The Ospreys led throughout the game and took an 8-5 lead 36 seconds into the final period as Martin blistered a shot from 10 yards out past MSU goalkeeper ALAN ANNAZONE (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn). But the Red Hawks started their comeback as RICH DOYEN (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) scored off a pass from Gondres with 12:53 to play and Stockton was flagged for a penalty. That gave MSU another power-play and it took advantage as Gondres scored unassisted 23 seconds later to cut the deficit to 8-7.

Della Pesca then tied the game at 8-8 just 32 seconds later as he wrapped a shot past Kyle Witty (Montville, NJ/Montville) while falling down. Montclair State then took its first lead with 11:06 left as WILBUR THORSEN (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) gathered a perfect pass from Della Pesca in the slot and fired a shot past Witty. BRIAN FISCHER (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) extended the lead to 10-8 with 8:12 left and Della Pesca's second of the period gave MSU a three-goal lead. Thorsen got his second of the game with 5:57 left off an assist from Gondres and Della Pesca tallied for the third time with 4:25 to go as Montclair led 13-8. MICHAEL EARL (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) capped the incredible MSU run as he notched his second goal of the year with 2:45 left.

Witty finished with 21 saves as he faced 35 MSU shots on net. The Red Hawks totaled 54 shots in the game compared to the Ospreys 31. Annazone had 11 saves.

Witty helped Stockton take a 3-1 lead at halftime as he made 10 stops. Anthony Severino (Edison, NJ/St. Joseph) scored midway through the period and after Fischer tied the game at 1-1, Martin put the Ospreys in front with 4:48 remaining. Ryan McQuilken (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) recorded a goal late with four minutes left before half as Stockton took a two-goal lead into intermission.