Montclair, NJ (10/22/08) – Kean University scored three times in the first half then held off a rally from 20th-ranked Montclair State in the second half as the Cougars posted their 12th straight win, handing the Red Hawks their sixth straight defeat, 3-2 in NJAC action at Sprague Field on Wednesday evening.

Junior Brittany Gibbs (West Deptford, NJ / West Deptford), freshman Lauren Kusik (Randolph, NJ / Randolph), and sophomore Erica Kelly (West Deptford, NJ / West Deptford) each tallied in the first half as Kean improved to 13-2 overall, 3-0 in the NJAC with its first win over MSU since 1996, a span of 14 games.

Junior MEGAN WALSH ( Lumberton, NJ / Rancocas Valley) and sophomore DEANA HAGEL ( Fairfield, NJ / West Essex) each scored a goal for Montclair, which fell to 8-6 on the season. The Red Hawks are 0-4 in the NJAC.

MSU jumped on top 14:44 into the contest when JESSICA MURPHY ( West Long Branch, NJ / Shore Regional) put a shot on goal that keeper Ashlie Berghold ( Boyertown, PA / Boyertown Area Senior) stopped. The ball bounced back out to Walsh, who slammed in the rebound for her fourth goal.

The lead would be short-lived as Kean responded less than two minutes later. Off a penalty corner, Katie McGee ( Cherry Hill, NJ / Cherry Hill West) fired a shot from the top of the circle toward the left post where Gibbs tipped the ball in for her 22nd goal of the year.

Kean would add on two goals in the final 1:27 to take a 3-1 lead into halftime. Montclair State was whistled for a penalty stroke, and Kusik capitalized on converting the stroke for her fifth of the year. The Cougars then got a penalty corner as time expired in the first half. Kelly, off a scramble in front of the cage, had her initial shot stopped however she poked in the rebound as Kean went up by two goals.

Montclair State would climb within a goal midway through the second half. Off a penalty corner of its own, Hagel and JENNA GALLO ( Voorhees, NJ / Eastern) each got off shots that Berghold made saves on. But Hagel was able to knock in the third attempt at 49:50 as MSU drew within 3-2. It was Hagel's fifth goal of the season.

Berghold would make one more save to finish with six as Kean was outshot by the slim 13-12 margin. The Cougars collected 10 penalty corners to MSU's 7. Goalkeeper EMINA UDRJIA ( West Paterson, NJ / Passaic Valley) had four saves for Montclair State.

Montclair State returns to action on Tuesday, October 28, as the Red Hawks travel to Mahwah, NJ to face Ramapo College at 4:00 pm. Kean is home for Elizabethtown College on Saturday, October 25, at 1:00 pm.