Camden, NJ - Sophomore
Lucas Terci (Union, NJ, Union) scored the game's only goal in the 16th minute as Montclair State knocked off University of Rochester, 1-0 in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Sectional Tournament at RUC Community Park on Saturday evening.
Junior
Kevin Lynch (Cinnaminson, NJ, Cinnaminson) stopped eight shots as the Red Hawks advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. The Red Hawks (17-3-3) will face host Rutgers-Camden (21-0-2) in an All-New Jersey final on Sunday at 5:00 pm with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship in San Antonio, TX on December 6-7.
Montclair State got an early goal, Rochester played most of the game a man down due to a red card and the Red Hawks hung on in the second half to eliminate the Yellowjackets.
Montclair State scored the game's lone goal at 15:32 when Terci ran onto a long pass from freshman forward
Mike Olla (Bloomfield, NJ, St. Benedict's Prep) and chipped a shot over Rochester senior keeper Mike Moranz (Pittsford, NJ/Pittsford Sutherland).
Later in the half, Moranz drew an unintentional red card when he charged out of the net in the attempt to break up a breakaway by the Red Hawks'
Jesse Shea (Marlton, NJ, Cherokee). Moranz missed clearing the ball and tangled up with Shea, both went down and Moranz drew the red card for taking down the offensive player.
Rochester played the final 51:39 of the game shorthanded, but the Yellowjackets applied plenty of pressure in the second half, outshooting the Red Hawks 8-3, before Montclair State nailed down the shutout.
Montclair State, ranked 13th in the final regular-season
D3soccer.com poll and No. 22 in the NSCAA Top 25, improves to 17-3-3. Rochester, ranked No. 10/11 in the
D3soccer.com and NSCAA polls, respectively, closes its season at 15-3-2.
Rochester finished with an 18-13 edge in shots and a 10-7 advantage in corner kicks.
Moranz made six saves and freshman Michael Shatkin (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) added one acrobatic save after he entered as the Yellowjackets' goalie.
Lynch recorded his second shutout of the season.
It will be the second meeting of the season between the two NJAC powers. Montclair State and Rutgers-Camden played to a scoreless draw in Camden on October 12.
