Union, NJ – Top-ranked Montclair State got three goals in the first half from three different players as the Red Hawks wrapped up the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season crown for the second straight season with a 5-0 victory over Kean University on Wednesday evening.
Freshman forward
Gianna Moglino (Holmdel, NJ, Holmdel), the NJAC Rookie of the Week, had a goal and assist as the Red Hawks (17-1) also claimed the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament which begins on Wednesday, November 6. MSU finished tied with The College of New Jersey at 5-1 however Montclair won the tiebreaker with the Lions by virtue of its 2-1 win over TCNJ at home on October 11. Montclair, the defending league champion, will host a semifinal contest against an opponent yet to be determined.
Sophomore forward
Maura Johnston (Montville, NJ, Montville) got MSU on the board at the 11:17 mark of the first half as she put away a rebound on the left side after Moglino's initial shot was stopped by Cougar keeper Katie DiCarlo. The lead was extended to 2-0 less than five minutes later as
Stephanie Lewis (Garwood, NJ, Arthur L. Johnson) was there to put in another rebound.
Katie Lipsit
(Lumberton, NJ, Rancocas Valley) made it a three-goal margin with 5:30 to play in the first half as she sprung free on a perfectly placed pass from Moglino who then got a goal of her own in the second half to make the score 4-0.
Meghan Weiss (Allendale, NJ, Northern Highlands) completed the scoring with 6:55 left as the Red Hawks capitalized off a penalty corner with
Jennifer Tafro (Little Falls, NJ, Passaic Valley) picking up the assist.
Sophomore keeper
Rebecca Brattole (Clark, NJ, Arthur L. Johnson) stopped three shots to record her seventh shutout of the season.
Montclair State outshot the Cougars (13-4, 2-4) 18-5 and held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners.
The Red Hawks will return to action on Saturday, November 2 closing out their regular season with a 1:00 pm contest against Gwynedd-Mercy. It will be Senior Day as the Red Hawks will honor their six seniors – Tafro, Lewis,
Brooke Hullings (Delran, NJ, Delran),
Emily Burd (Newton, NJ, Newton),
Sierra Rauchbach (East Brunswick, NJ, East Brunswick) and Allison Jillions (Hainesport, NJ, Holy Cross).
