Montclair, NJ (9/1/07) – Senior OWEN NICHOLS (Princeton, NJ / Princeton) scored once and earned Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament as the Montclair State men's soccer team, ranked 14th by both the NSCAA and D3Kicks.com, captured the LaQuinta Inn Cup with a 3-0 win over Misericordia University at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday.

Brothers Joseph and MICHAEL CULLEN (Clementon, NJ / Highland Regional) each scored goals as the Red Hawks (2-0) won the LaQuinta Inn Cup for the sixth consecutive year. Montclair opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory against Wilkes University on Friday.

Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Loyd (Dillsburg, PA/ Northern York) made seven saves for the Cougars, who fell to 1-1 on the season. Misericordia topped William Paterson University in the first round on Friday, 2-1.

Montclair State took a 1-0 lead 6:31 into the match as JOSEPH CULLEN notched his first of the season off an assist from fellow classmate JOHN ESPOSITO (Hillside, NJ / Hillside). With the ball inside the 18-yardline, Esposito, who collected his second assist in as many games, flicked a pass onto the foot of Cullen, who then slotted the ball inside the left post just outside the outstretched arms of Loyd.

Just under nine minutes later it was MICHAEL CULLEN's turn as he alertly scored off a free kick. With the Cougars scrambling to set up their defense, Cullen placed the ball down and fired a shot into the upper left corner for his second career marker and a 2-0 Montclair State lead at 15:19 of the half.

Nichols would finish off the Montclair State scoring with 20 seconds left  in the game.

Junior netminder NICK MELE (Delran, NJ / Delran) made seven saves as he registered his second straight shutout and the 11th of his career. MSU outshot Misericordia, 16-12 and held a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.

The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday, September 5 as they close out their season-opening homestand with a 4:00 pm matchup with College of Staten Island at MSU Soccer Park. Misericordia plays its home opener on the same day as the Cougars entertain King's at 7:00 pm.