Kings Point, NY – Sophomore midfielder SKYLER FRANCISCO scored three of his four of his goals in the fourth quarter as Montclair State dominated the final period for a 12-10 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday afternoon.

DON FINN registered three goals as the Red Hawks picked up their first win of the season and first Skyline Conference triumph. MSU (1-6, 1-0 Skyline) had lost its first six contests, five coming against USILA Top 20 teams.

MSU trailed 8-5 late in the third when Francisco took a BRYAN PETERS pass and found the back of the net with seven seconds remaining in the period cutting the deficit to two. Francisco opened the final quarter with two goals one minute apart, the second with 9:06 to play tying the game at 8-8.

Finn tallied four minutes later to give the Red Hawks the lead however Jack Renard answered with a man-up goal knotting the contest with 3:03 left. It took Montclair seven seconds to go back on top as BLASE MANTINEO won the ensuing faceoff, found BRADY WULSTER who fed DAN BELLEZZA for the go-ahead goal.

Mantineo, who was 22-of-23 in the game at the "X" including 8-of-9 in the fourth, won the next face off which turned into Francisco's fourth tally making the score 11-9 with 2:01 left. The Mariners (3-2, 1-1 Skyline), making their return to the Skyline Conference after a 10-year hiatus, pulled within 11-10 after Nick Treon scored with 52 seconds to play.

But Mantineo won the faceoff with NICK SNOW scooping up the ground ball. Finn turned that into the final score with 12 ticks left as the Red Hawks got into the win column for the first time in 2017.

Defenseman RYAN YOUNG finished with 12 ground balls – one shy of the MSU single-game record. Mantineo added eight ground balls while goalkeeper LUCAS JONES made 12 saves.

The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 pm when it hosts Stockton University at Sprague Field.