Montclair, NJ (10/25/06) – Freshman midfielder JOHN ESPOSITO (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) knocked in a shot with 3:57 left in the first half for the game's only goal as 13th-ranked Montclair State completed a perfect run through New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season play with a 1-0 victory over Ramapo College at MSU Soccer Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Sophomore goalkeeper NICK MELE (Delran, NJ/Delran) made two saves in posting his seventh shutout of the year as the Red Hawks finished 9-0 in conference play becoming the first team since Rowan in 1999 to run through the league slate unbeaten and untied. Montclair State, which has won six straight, also tied the school record for victories set in 1988 with their 17th win against one loss (17-1) and it is the first time that MSU went undefeated and untied in the NJAC since 1971 when it captured the league title.

The Red Hawks will be the No. 1 seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament which gets underway on Saturday, October 28. Montclair will receive a first-round bye and host a semifinal game on Tuesday, October 31 at Sprague Field beginning at 7:30 pm. MSU will face the winner of the first round match between No. 4 Kean and No. 5 Richard Stockton.

Patrick Jagodzinski (Lebanon, NJ/Immaculata) made 12 saves for Ramapo, which entered the day tied with Richard Stockton and Rowan for the sixth and final spot. The loss dropped the Roadrunners to 10-6-1 overall, 3-5-1 in the NJAC.

Esposito collected his third tally of the season as he netted his score at the 41:03 mark. Senior KEVIN BURKHARDT (Clifton, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) collected a ball on the left side and dribbled to the end line before crossing a pass to the far post. Esposito picked the ball out of the air and volleyed it across inside the left post for the only goal of the contest.

Montclair State outshot Ramapo, 21-4, however the Roadrunners did get a pair of chances. Anthony Testa (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) got off an attempt at 36:18 that Mele stopped. Matt Crimi (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) had the other chance, a shot at 72:18 that was also denied.

Montclair State, which improved to 21-10-5 all-time against Ramapo, also held a 9-2 edge in corner kicks.