Montclair, NJ – Travis Ward recorded a hat trick and scored the go-ahead goal with 6:08 remaining as third-ranked Rowan University remained unbeaten with a 4-3 victory over Montclair State at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday evening.
Jake Conners had a goal for the Profs (11-0-1, 4-0-1 NJAC) took advantage of a man-up and then two-man-up situation in winning its second straight game.

MIKE OLLA scored twice for the Red Hawks, who fell to 10-4 on the year, 2-3 in the NJAC. All four of MSU's losses this year have come by a goal with its three league setbacks coming by identical 4-3 margins.

Olla gave the Red Hawks a 1-0 lead 7:24 into the contest with his third goal of the season. Terci moved in along the left sideline into the box where he slipped a pass to Olla, who tapped the feel past the keeper for the game's first score.

Olla would extend the lead in the 26^th minute with his second tally, a play that began with a failed clear by the Profs. Olla picked up the loose ball and drove in along the right side before unleashing a shot inside the right post giving Montclair State a 2-0 advantage.

Rowan would get a goal back less than five minutes later. Off a free kick from near midfield, the ball was sent deep to the right post. Burak Ozdemir got a foot on it and managed to flip the ball to Ward, who found the back of the net in traffic trimming the MSU lead to 2-1 at halftime.

In the second half, the Profs gained a man-advantage as an MSU player was sent off after getting his second yellow card.  Rowan would take advantage tying the game with 19:12 left as Conners scored off a pass from Alex Kardos tying the match at 2-2.

A quickly as Rowan tied the game, the Red Hawks answered 89 seconds later when Rowan was called for a foul inside the box. LUCAS TERCI converted the penalty kick putting MSU back on top. The goal gave Terci his 147^th career point making his the all-time leader in Montclair State history surpassing Erik Neubart (1993-96) for the top spot.

But Montclair's lead lasted just 39 seconds as the Profs again got the ball deep on the right side. Nick Schlageter passed a ball from the right post to Shane Doherty, who then flipped the feed to Ward for the latter's third of the game and a 3-3 tie with 16:29 to play.

Keepers Kyle Dennis and MIKE SAALFRANK kept the game tied with a pair of saves each in the next 10 minutes. Rowan then went up two men following another red card and the Profs made that hur with the go-ahead score by Ward off an assist from Tyler
Logar.

Saalfrank finished with six saves for the Red Hawks, who were outshot 21-14 in the contest.

Montclair returns to action on Wednesday, October 12 as it travels to William Paterson University for a 7:00 pm matchup at Pioneer Soccer Park.