Pittsburgh, PA –Senior
Dan Mendoza (Hackensack, NJ, Hackensack) converted what turned out to be the decisive kick as Montclair State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship knocking off Misericordia University in penalty kicks at Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday afternoon.
The game was decided in penalty kicks after the two played to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes.
Lucas Terci (Union, NJ, Union),
Brian Cullen (Clementon, NJ, Highland Regional) and
Sean Pritchard (Ramsey, NJ, Ramsey) each made good on their penalty kick attempts as the Red Hawks now face host Carnegie Mellon, a 3-1 winner over Virginia Wesleyan, on Sunday, November 17 in the second round. The winner of the game moves on to the NCAA Sectional Tournament which will be played next weekend.
Terci scored on the first round for Montclair State which was matched by the Cougars George Stock. After Cullen converted his attempt, David Stoner followed through on his forging a 2-2 tie after two rounds. Mendoza opened the third round with a make however Misericordia failed to convert giving Montclair a 3-2 lead. After Pritchard scored to open the fourth, the Cougars misfired again allowing the Red Hawks to advance.
In what became a defensive battle for the first 87 minutes, Montclair snapped the scoreless tie with 2:08 to play when Cullen found Terci for the latter's ninth goal of the year. But Misericordia quickly worked the ball down the field following the kickoff and got a corner kick with 1:29 to play. Nick Ferguson lofted a perfectly place ball to middle of the box where Kevin Matlon was able to head in tying the game 44 seconds after the MSU goal.
Neither team would be able to generate much in the two 10-minute overtime periods.
Sophomore defender
Matthew Deziel (Wyckoff, NJ, Ramapo), making his first career start, had three saves for the Red Hawks, who outshot the Cougars, 19-8 in the match.
