Montclair , NJ ( 3/8/06 ) – Freshman A.J. Bachman scored three times and BRYAN KLIMCHAK added two goals and an assist as Montclair State picked up its first win of the 2006 season with an 8-2 victory over Centenary College in Knickerbocker Conference Men's Lacrosse action at Sprague Field on Wednesday evening.

EVAN WEHMEYER added two goals for the Red Hawks (1-2, 1-2 KLC), who rebounded from losses to Kings Point and 10 th-ranked Stevens. Ryan Seickel made 11 saves for the Cyclones, who fell to 0-2 overall, 0-1 in the conference.

After a scoreless seven minutes to open the game, Klimchak got Montclair State on the board with 6:28 to play in the opening period as he took a feed from DAVE ARMSTRONG and fired a shot past Seickel for the first goal of the game. Bachman netted the first of his goals with 3:05 left as the Red Hawks led 2-0 after the first quarter. Klimchak's second of the game with 8:37 to play in the second period gave MSU a three-goal advantage and Wehmeyer scored on a man-up opportunity as Montclair State headed into halftime up 4-0.

In the second half, Armstrong collected his only goal of the contest at 12:02 to make the score 5-0, and Bachman's second off an assist from KEVIN COSGROVE increased the Montclair lead to six. Wehmeyer netted his second with 3:31 to play in the third as the Red Hawks led 7-0 after three quarters. Bachman notched his first collegiate hat trick with 6:41 left in the final period for last MSU tally.

The Cyclones averted the shutout with two goals in the final minute. Nick Peilmeier fired a shot with 53 seconds left that beat MSU goalkeeper THOMAS BOWERS to the right side. Just over thirty seconds later, Peilmeier got off a shot that Bowers stopped. Eric Dechert stuffed in the rebound for the final margin.

Bowers finished with 16 saves for Montclair State which was outshot in the game, 36-33. The Red Hawks held a 30-27 advantage in ground balls, including five by freshman TYLER MEIXNER and four by MATT SHARP.

The Red Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 11 as they host Farmingdale State in a Knickerbocker Conference matchup at Sprague Field. Faceoff is set for 1:00 and the contest is a rematch of last year's ECAC Division III Metro championship game won by Montclair State , 13-8.