Montclair, NJ – Montclair State scored three times in an 11-minute span of the first half then got two goals late by senior Brian Cullen (Clementon, NJ, Highland Regional) as the Red Hawks pushed their winning streak to nine with a 5-2 victory over Rutgers-Camden at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday.

Junior Damian Bziukiewicz (East Rutherford, NJ, Becton Regional) had a goal and two assists as the Red Hawks (12-3) wrapped up a first-round bye in the upcoming NJAC Tournament with the victory. MSU remained atop the league standings at 7-0, a game ahead of Rutgers-Newark (6-1) which was upended by Kean 3-2 on Saturday. The Scarlet Raptors (9-7) are two games back with two games remaining.

In a rematch of last year's NCAA Sectional Final won by Rutgers-Camden, the Scarlet Raptors jumped out to a 1-0 lead 87 seconds into the contest as Grant Taylor (Mendham, NJ / West Morris-Mendham) fed Kwame Mensah (Aurora, CO / Gateway) for the latter's first goal of the season.

The Red Hawks responded almost immediately as John Starner (Manahawkin, NJ, Southern Regional) headed in a Lucas Terci (Union, NJ, Union) corner kick at the 3:05 mark knotting the game at 1-1 before Bziukiewicz gave MSU the lead in the 14^th minute with his six goal of the season. Sophomore Mike Olla (Bloomfield, NJ, St. Benedict's Prep) followed 60 seconds later with Terci picking up another assists for a 3-1 MSU advantage before the game was 15 minutes old.

MSU carried that 3-1 lead into the second half before the Scarlet Raptors trimmed the lead to a goal on Mike Ryan's (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee) team-best 10^th goal of the year at 50:53.

Montclair would put an end to any Rutgers-Camden comeback with 20:27 left as Cullen netted the first of his two goals knocking in a pass from Bziukiewicz. The two would combine for the final goal in the 78^th minute.

Sophomore goalkeeper Michael Gonzalez (Kenilworth, NJ, Union Catholic) made four saves to pick up his 10^th win of the season. Sean Matias (Vineland, NJ / Millville) had three saves with Eric Bumbera (Wall, NJ / Wall) making one stop.

The Red Hawks outshot the Scarlet Raptors by the slim 14-13 margin with Rutgers-Camden holding a 12-8 advantage in corner kicks.

Montclair State returns to action on Monday, October 20 with a 7:00 pm home contest against York (NY).