Ewing, NJ – Senior forward Francesca Gibson (Cape May, NJ, Lower Cape May Regional) scored the lone goal in the 79^th minute as 16^th-ranked Montclair State knocked off 10^th-ranked The College of New Jersey in a battle of Top 10 teams at Lions Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Red Hawks picked up their 10^th straight victory – all by shutout as it improved to 10-1 on the year while remaining unbeaten in the NJAC at 4-0. TCNJ fell to 8-2 overall, 3-1 in the conference. Montclair posted its fifth victory over the Lions in 33 all-time meetings however MSU has won the last three regular-season meeting and are 3-0-1 in the last four contests. MSU hasn't allowed a goal to TCNJ since the 2011 NJAC Tournament semifinals.

The only goal of the game came with 11:40 left in regulation as Gibson touched in a pass from Martina Landeka (Westfield, NJ, Westfield).

In the first half, Montclair State had the best chance of either team to get on the board with just over 14 minutes left in the period. Gibson cut to the middle of the field and fired a rising shot on the Lion net that keeper Kendra Griffith (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) snared to keep the game scoreless.

It didn't take the Lions long to get a quality scoring chance in the second period when sophomore Christine Levering (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) fed a nice pass through the Red Hawk defense to  senior Korrie Harkins (Wenonah, NJ/Gloucester Catholic). Harkins then sent a low shot towards the far corner that Montclair State goalie Gina Policastro (East Brunswick, NJ, East Brunswick) kicked out with her left foot.

TCNJ had another great chance minutes later with Levering again being the catalyst. She sent a cross from the far side that freshman Elizabeth Thoresen (Colts Neck, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) one-timed on goal that Policastro smothered.

Montclair State countered midway through second half on a play that started on a corner kick. Shawna Grabowski (Woodbridge, NJ, Woodbridge), who scored the goal in each of the past two 1-0 victories for MSU, had that chance as her header glanced off the far post.

Griffith, who tied a season high with five saves, then came up with her best save of the game when Kaila Fasano (Westwood, NJ, Westwood) found a seam and fired a shot on goal that the Lion goalie denied with a sprawling stop.

It was shortly thereafter that the Red Hawks broke through with the game's only goal.

Policastro, who made a diving stop to preserve the lead in the 84^th minute, earned the shutout with five saves. She also knocked away a potential game-tying attempt in the closing seconds.

Both teams have midweek non-conference games coming up as Montclair State takes on Vassar College on Wednesday, October 8 with the Lions hosting Farmingdale State on Thursday, October 9.