Keene, NH – The Montclair State men's lacrosse team posted the biggest victory in program history on Wednesday as the Red Hawks earned their first NCAA Tournament victory with a 10-7 over 18^th-ranked Keene State at the Owl Athletic Complex.

Senior BRETT MANGAN scored three goals and added an assists as Montclair finally broke into the win column in their eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. MSU (13-6), which has won nine in a row, moves on to the second round on Saturday, May 14 with another tough test facing No. 1 ranked Ithaca College.

It will be the second time in three years that Montclair and the Bombers will meet in the NCAA Tournament. The two squared off in the first round of the 2014 tournament at Higgins Stadium with Ithaca recording a 13-4 victory.

Montclair State held the nation's top-ranked offense to its lowest point total of the season. The Owls (14-4) entered the game averaging 17.3 goals per game but were held 10 below that average. Goalkeeper LUCAS JONES made 15 saves. DON FINN scored twice for MSU which got a goal and assist from ZACH SCHRECK. BLASE MANTINEO was once again on top of his game at the "X" winning 15-of-20 with eight ground balls.

Mangan gave Montclair a 1-0 lead 3:31 into the contest as he scored off an assist from CONNOR CUNNINGHAM. That lead lasted 30 second as Tyler McKelvie scores however Montclair put the next two on the board for a 3-1 lead. Schreck scored unassisted and then set up Mangan on a man-up tally with 8:12 left.

Keene got one back with two minutes to play however RYAN TOTIN answered 15 seconds later giving MSU a 4-2 advantage. Paul Beling closed the gap to a goal with 19 seconds left and Rob Hart's tally early in the second knotted the contest at 4-4.

BRYAN PETERS and Mangan scored 52 second apart late in the half as Montclair State took a 6-4 lead into halftime.

The third quarter would be all Keene State as it scored the first three goals taking the lead for the first time with 2:55 left on a goal from Hunter Arnold. The Red Hawks regrouped and went back on top scoring the last two of the period. Finn tied the game with 1:53 to play and BRADY WULSTER finished off a Mangan feed with six seconds showing, giving Montclair an 8-7 lead heading into the final period.

MSU would net the only two goals in the final period. SEAN STADTLANDER scored with 6:14 left with Finn scoring three minutes later.  Jones made three saves in the final period including a pair of point-blank shot against Arnold with four minutes remaining.