Newport News, VA – An own goal near the midpoint of the first half proved costly for Montclair State as the Red Hawks were bounced from the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship with a 3-0 loss to in-state rival Stevens as Christopher Newport University's Captains Field on Saturday evening.

The Red Hawks closed out their 2014 season at 17-5 as it fell in its initial NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2009 when it dropped a 4-0 decision to the Stevens in the second round. It was Montclair's first first-round loss in the NCAAs since a 1-0 setback against Rowan in 1998.

After getting an early save from goalkeeper MICHAEL GONZALEZ, MSU had an opportunity to grab the first lead in the 18^th minute however two defensive saves by Ducks on consecutive shots by JOHN STARNER kept the game scoreless. 

Less than four minutes later, disaster struck for Montclair State as a shot by the Ducks appeared headed wide however a Red Hawks defender tried to keep the ball in play and inadvertently flicked the ball into the goal giving Stevens a 1-0 lead at the 21:07 mark.

Montclair would get a chance to tie the game but a shot by LUCAS TERCI at the 28:29 mark was also stopped by a Ducks' defender as Stevens took the 1-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Gonzalez made two saves in the first nine minutes before Stevens added to its lead on a goal by Patrick Masur in the 62^nd minute off a set piece. The Ducks added the final goal with 6:57 left as Kevin Calloway fired in a shot from the right side off a feed from Colin Phillips.

Gonzalez finished with three saves for MSU, which outshot Stevens, 13-9.