Hoboken, NJ - Junior forward
Martina Landeka (Westfield, NJ, Westfield) scored in the first half and
Melissa Koster (Yardville, NJ, Steinert) and
Jennie Hornstra (Clifton, NJ, Clifton) added scores in the second as No. 13 Montclair State posted its fourth straight victory blanking Stevens, 3-0 at the DeBaun Athletic Complex on Friday evening.
Montclair (4-1) jumped right out to a 1-0 lead just 1:21 into the contest off a free kick from 30 yards out.
Janae Geonnetti (Mount Laurel, NJ, Paul VI)sent a service directly to the middle of the box which was headed into the right corner of the goal by Landeka. The Red Hawks' tally was the first goal allowed by freshman Lindsey Mahnken (Bayville, N.J.) all season after 270 consecutive minutes without letting one in. Mahnken, last week's Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Upstate Rookie of the Week, made seven saves on the evening.
Stevens had a golden opportunity for the equalizer with 35 minutes left in the half on a cross from senior Ann Heine (Sammamish, Wash.) to sophomore Gabby Mathelier (Pomona, N.Y.). Heine sent the pass to Mathelier on a run down the left side and scored on an open net, but the goal was negated after it was ruled that the ball popped up and hit Mathelier's arm.
The scored remained at 1-0 late in the first half after freshman Megan Lynes(Clovis, Calif.) turned away an open shot for the Red Hawks and notched a team save to keep Stevens' deficit at a goal heading into the break.
Off a corner kick in the 64th minute from senior Mariah Cleveland (Los Gatos, Calif.), sophomore Allison Kopacz (Green Brook, N.J.) settled the ball in space and ripped a strike towards goal but glanced off the left post.
Just four minutes later, Cleveland found herself with an opportunity to beat Montclair's goalkeeper,
Gina Policastro (East Brunswick, NJ, East Brunswick), but a Red Hawk defender slid in front of the shot to divert the chance.
Montclair tacked on its second goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 77th minute from Koster and then put the game out of reach with its third in the 83rd minute from Hornstra. Hornstra crossed over a Stevens defender on her run and beat Mahnken with a low shot to the left.
It was a chippy contest throughout, as Montclair piled up 16 fouls and two yellow cards. Stevens committed 13 foul with one booking.
Montclair outshot the Ducks, 22-11, and was awarded seven corners to three for Stevens.
The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday, September 17 when it hosts FDU-Florham at MSU Soccer Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
