Montclair, NJ (5/9/07) – Sophomore attack Mary Kate DiBenedetto (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) scored four times while junior midfielder BETHANY BLAINE (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) added three goals and an assist as Montclair State made the most of its first game in the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship in program history with a 17-7 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University at Sprague Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Freshman MORGAN MACPHEE (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) had three goals and senior BRIANNA GILLIN (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) posted a goal and three assists as the Red Hawks won their fourth straight game and improved to 14-3 this season. MSU now heads into the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they will face Hamilton College (15-2) at Gettysburg College on Saturday, May 12. The victory was another milestone this season for MSU, which earned its first bid to the NCAA's by virtue of a Pool B which consists of independent institutions and institutions that are members of conferences that do not meet the requirements for automatic qualification. Montclair won its second straight Skyline Conference championship on Sunday and is in its 11 th season as a program since returning from an 11-year hiatus from 1985 until 1997.

Sophomore attack Megan Gloster ( Agawam , MA / Agawam ) had three goals for the Warriors, who complete their season at 13-6 under first –year head coach Christine Jeffrey. Eastern was making its second NCAA appearance in the last three years as the Warriors earned a berth in the tournament by capturing the Little East Conference with a 10-9 win over Plymouth State in the title game on Saturday.

Montclair State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 1:44 of the game as Blaine, DiBenedetto and JENNIFER TANIS ( Oak Ridge , NJ /Jeffrerson) each scored. After ECSU countered with a pair of goals, DiBenedetto netted her second off a free-position attempt to give the Red Hawks a 4-2 advantage with 18:39 to go. But the Warriors battled back with three consecutive goals, the last two by Gloster, whose second tally with 14:44 to play gave Eastern a 5-4 lead.

DiBenedetto then sparked a four-goal run to end the half with her third goal that tied the contest. ANN DAILY (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) netted an unassisted goal with 4:09 left and later added another with 1:16 to go before halftime as the Red Hawks built an 8-5 lead at the break.

"They're ( Eastern Connecticut ) a good team and they took advantage when we lapsed," said MSU head coach Nicol Parcelluzzi. "But we were able pick up the play and played smart. 'MK' (DiBenedetto) played an outstanding game. She gives 110 percent all of time and she really picked us up today."

In the second half, Blaine scored 32 seconds into the period and NICOLE ROSELLE ( Montville , NJ /Pine Brook) followed just over a minute later as MSU increased the lead to 10-5. MacPhee registered consecutive tallies as the Red Hawks made it eight unanswered goals widening their lead to 12-5. The Warriors' Kara Bradley (North Haven, CT/Mercy) would stop the MSU run with 15:28 left as she scored her second, however Montclair responded with the next five goals by five different players, including DiBenedetto, whose unassisted goal with 5:39 left made the score, 16-6.

"We were a little nervous in the beginning, said Blaine . "We had some breakdowns during their run in the first half, but we picked up the momentum and maintained it the rest of the game."

Senior goalkeeper Kristin Kuhmann (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) nine saves, including eight in the second half as Montclair outshot ECSU, 31-24 and held a 17-14 edge in ground balls. Tanis finished with two goals and an assist while Daily had two goals. Senior NICOLE LAROCCA ( Shamong , NJ / Shawnee ) added four draws and three caused turnovers.

Senior goalkeeper Erin Calkins ( Stony Brook , NY /Ward Melville) had seven saves for Eastern Connecticut , which got five draws from Bradley and three assists from Meghan Feraco ( Norwich , CT / Norwich Free Academy ) .