Montclair, NJ (9/25/07) – Freshman CHRIS EDELSCHEIN (Medford, NJ / Shawnee) scored once and assisted on another as Montclair State bounced back from its first defeat in 2007 with three unanswered goals in the first half in a 3-1 victory over Rutgers-Newark in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at MSU Soccer Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Sophomore JOHN ESPOSITO (Hillside, NJ / Hillside) and senior OWEN NICHOLS (Princeton, NJ / Princeton) each scored for the Red Hawks as Montclair got back in the win column after suffering a 2-1 loss at The College of New Jersey on Saturday. MSU improved to 8-1-1 overall this season, 3-1 in the NJAC.

Freshman forward Christien Vlahinich ( Montvale, NJ / St. Joseph's) scored once for the Scarlet Raiders, who fell to 5-3-1 overall, 0-2 in the NJAC.

Rutgers-Newark jumped on top less than five minutes into the contest as Vlahinich collected his fifth of the season. Joe Caamano ( Linden, NJ / Linden) crossed a ball from the right corner to an unmarked Vlahinich, who put away a header inside the left post to give the Scarlet Raiders the early 1-0 lead.

Montclair State would even the match 4:05 later as Edelschein scored an unassisted tally, his fourth. Off a throw in, the ball dropped down onto the foot of Edelschein, who poked the loose ball past Rutgers-Newark goalkeeper Jonathan Frances ( Chandler, AZ/Hamilton). Edelschein would then assist on Esposito's goal at 37:51 as Montclair State took the lead for good. Edelschein headed a ball over a defender ahead of Esposito who ran in on the ball and chipped a shot past the goalkeeper. It was Esposito's second goal of the season.

The Red Hawks would close out the first half on Nichols' goal with 4:21 remaining in the period. Freshman MIKE KROL (Howell, NJ / Howell) slid a pass from the right side to Nichols, who was moving away from the goal before firing a left-footed shot that ducked inside the far post giving MSU a two-goal advantage at the break.

MSU netminder NICK MELE ( Delran, NJ / Delran) finished with four saves for the Red Hawks, who outshot the Scarlet Raiders, 20-7 while also holding a 12-3 advantage in corner kicks. Frances made six saves for Rutgers-Newark in the first half before Matt Zielyk (West Orange, NJ / Seton Hall) came on to stop on shot in the second.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, September 29. Montclair State will travel to Rutgers-Camden for a 7:00 pm matchup with the Scarlet Raptors while Rutgers-Newark returns to Alumni Field for a contest with The College of New Jersey at the same time.