Montclair, NJ (4/23/05) – Senior attack SEAN PEKARSKY tallied two goals and set up five others to lead the Montclair State University men's lacrosse team to a 12-8 Knickerbocker Lacrosse Conference victory over SUNY Maritime today at Sprague Field.

MSU finished the regular season at 8-6 overall and 5-1 in KLC play, while the visiting Privateers finish 6-7 on the year and 2-4 in the conference.

Freshman attack BRYAN KLIMCHAK scored three goals and senior midfield BRIAN FISCHER added a goal and two assists for the host Red Hawks, who won their second straight conference contest. Junior attack JOHN DELLA PESCA and sophomore midfielder EVAN WEHMEYER contributed two goals apiece with senior attack KEVIN GONDRES and junior midfielder DAVE ARMSTRONG scoring the others.

Senior attack Joey Coughlin led the Privateers with two goals and two assists, with junior attack David Kozak  scoring twice and junior midfielder Kevin Swift adding a goal and two assists.

MSU never trailed in the game, racing out to a 4-1 lead after one quarter and led 6-3 at the half before enjoying a 9-4 advantage after three periods. Montclair outshot Maritime, 49-44, and scored on 2-of-6 man-advantage opportunities while the Privateers claimed 18-of-24 face-offs and connected on 2-of-5 power plays.

Goaltenders THOMAS BOWERS of Montclair State and sophomore Tom O'Hara (Syracuse, NY) of Maritime each finished with 18 saves. MSU took time out before the game to honor the five seniors on this year's squad in Pekarsky, Gondres, Fischer, midfielder MICHAEL EARL and defenseman ROI KLIPPER.

Montclair State opens the post-season at home on Wednesday, April 27, when it hosts the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at 7:00 p.m. at Sprague Field in the first round of the KLC Tournament. The Red Hawks, who are seeded second in the conference tournament, bested the Mariners, 11-7, in Kings Point, NY back on April 20 as Gondres registered three goals and two assists and freshman Bowers again made 18 stops.