Union, NJ – Junior MATT HAEMMERLE scored two goals in the first period as Montclair State closed out its regular season with a 7-5 victory over in-state rival Kean University on Friday evening.

SKYLER FRANCISCO, STEVE PRINCE and ROB PAPA each had a goal and assist as the Red Hawks (9-7) scored six of the first seven goals of the contest. Jack Bushey scored twice for Kean, which fell to 12-5.

Haemmerle snapped a scoreless tie midway through the first quarter and added his second 40 seconds later off an assist from STEVE PRINCE. Prince made it 3-0 with 5:54 left in the first before the Cougars got on the board on a Tyler Roberto with 2:26 left. Francisco collected a goal with nine seconds to play as MSU led 4-1 after one period.

The Red Hawks held that three-goal advantage into halftime and extended the lead to 6-1 after BRADY WULSTER scored early in the third ad Mike Waslik connected with 7:15 remaining. Kean's Mike Snellen got one back with 35 seconds left and a Bushey goal with 10:18 to play in the fourth pulled the Cougars within 6-3.

Francisco set up Papa for a man-up goal with nine minutes to go pushing the lead to 7-3. Kean did not go away as Jake Frankovits scored with four minutes left with Bushey finding the back of the net closing the gap to 7-5 with 2:42 to play.

Kean won the ensuing faceoff and had a chance to pull closer however keeper MATTHEW MCLAREN made a save against Scott Royster with 2:07 left. That would be the last shot of the game.

McLaren made nine saves in the second half after JACK CARDEW stopped five shots in the first half. MATT AXMANNwas 7-of-14 on faceoffs with Prince picking up five ground balls. NICK SNOW and Cardew had three ground balls apiece.