Montclair, NJ - Junior forward Maura Johnston (Montville, NJ, Montville) had a goal and assist leading five different Red Hawks with a goal as eighth-ranked Montclair State allowed an early goal before rolling to a 5-1 victory over Misericordia at Sprague Field on Saturday afternoon.

Abby Erler (New Hampton, NH, Newfound Regional), Kaitlyn Struss (Fairfield, NJ, West Essex), Megan Roeloffs (Robbinsville, NJ, Robbinsville) and Gianna Moglino (Holmdel, NJ, Holmdel) had a goal apiece as Montclair won its third straight, upping its record to 5-1 on the year. MSU also posted its fourth straight victory over the Cougars (3-2), who dropped their second straight contest. Montclair State leads the all-time series, 6-2.

Misericordia struck first and quickly as the Cougars found the back of the cage 99 seconds into the contest. Freshman Colby Eldridge (Maple Glen, PA / Hatboro-Horsham) collected her team-leading seventh goal of the season banging a loose ball inside the left post off a scramble in front.

But that would be the only offensive output for Misericordia the rest of the way as Montclair State limited the Cougars to just three shots over the final 68 minutes. Meanwhile the Red Hawks took control of the game although an equalizing goal was difficult to come by early as keeper Angela Pasquini (York Springs, PA / Bermudian Springs) made 11 saves in the first, eight of which came immediately after Misericordia took the 1-0 lead.

Pasquini turned away Struss at 4:56 and then stopped an attempt by Danielle Butrico (South Plainfield, NJ, South Plainfield) 30 seconds later. After making a save on Butrico again at 6:44, she made five consecutive denials, including two apiece verus Struss and Erler and a follow-up attempt by Moglino before MSU finally broke through at 18:43 of the period on Johnston's third tally of the season, a close reverse chip form the left side after Montclair drove the ball deep into the circle.

The Red Hawks would keep the pressure up only to be thwarted again by Pasquini, who made three straight saves in a nine-second span in the 21st minute to keep the game tied at 1-1. Montclair State then took the lead at 28:39 when Erler ripped a shot from the top of the circle inside the right post for her third of the year as MSU took a 2-1 lead into the break.

Misericordia would get a chance early in the second half however Eldridge was stopped by Rebecca Brattole (Clark, NJ, Arthur L. Johnson). MSU would push the ball back up the field and made the lead 3-1 as Struss notched her seventh goal maneuvering around a defender and then a charging Pasquini before firing a shot into the open cage at 39:43.

Roeloffs reigstered her first goal of the season with 8:59 remaining as she drove in along the left side before blasting a shot to the left post. Moglino capped the scoring with 4:39 left tapping in a cross-crease pass from Johnston into the right corner for her third tally of the year and the 19th of her 27-game Montclair State career.

Brattole finished with the one save for Montclair State which outshot the Cougars 34-4 in the contest while taking 17 corners compared to Misericordia's three. Over the last two games, Montclair's defense has surrendered just five total shots.

Pasquini totaled 20 saves in the contest.

The Red Hawks are now off until Saturday, September 20 when it travels to Cortland, NY for a 1:00 pm matchup with the Red Dragons.