Montclair, NJ – Freshman forward
Gianna Moglino (Holmdel, NJ, Holmdel) scored twice while senior
Jennifer Tafro (Little Falls, NJ, Passaic Valley) picked up a goal and assist as top-ranked and top-seeded Montclair State downed fourth-seeded Richard Stockton 3-0 in the semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Field Hockey Tournament on Wednesday evening.
Sophomore
Maura Johnston (Montville, NJ, Montville) had an assist as the Red Hawks advance to the title game for the third consecutive season. MSU (19-1) will host second-seeded and ninth-ranked The College of New Jersey (16-3) at Sprague Field on Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 pm. TCNJ knocked off second-seeded Rowan 6-1 in the other semifinal.
The winner of the championship game receives and automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. It is the second time in three years that the two will meet to decide the conference crown. TCNJ knocked off Montclair 2-0 in 2011. The Red Hawks won the regular-season meeting 2-1 at Sprague Field on October 11.
Junior goalkeeper Liz Stankiewicz (Freehold, NJ / Freehold Township) made nine saves for Richard Stockton (12-7) which was making its first appearance in the NJAC Tournament. The Ospreys also had their two-game winning streak snapped.
Stankiewicz came up with five saves through the first 14 minutes before Montclair got on the board as Tafro drove in along the left side and fired a shot inside the right points her 20th goal of the season and a 1-0 MSU lead.
Four minutes later it was Moglino getting in on the act with the first of her two scores.
Brooke Hullings (Delran, NJ, Delran) moved in along the left end line inside the circle, flipping the ball to Johnston. Johnston then flicked a pass across to goalmouth to Moglino who banged in the pass at 17:45 for a 2-0 Montclair State advantage.
Moglino scored once more for what turned out to be the final goal with 4:37 left before halftime. Tafro collected a ball from 20 yards out and drove in on Stankiewicz before dropping off a pass to Moglino on the left side for the goal, Moglino's 16 of the season. The assist for Tafro was the 10th of the season giving her two consecutive seasons of double digits for goals and assists.
Montclair State's lead could have been more if not for the outstanding effort of Stockton junior defender Cassie Kirk (Middletown, NJ / Middletown South), who made three defensive saves on the evening.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Rebecca Brattole (Clark, NJ, Arthur L. Johnson) made one save for her 11
th shutout of the season.
