Newark, NJ – Junior NIXON SOGLO scored twice as Montclair State scored five times in the first half, breaking open a close game in a 7-2 victory over Rutgers-Newark at Frederick Douglass Field on Saturday evening.

Freshman MICHAEL KNAPP picked up two assists as the Red Hawks turned a 2-0 halftime lead into a five-goal victory upping their record to 10-1-1 on the year, 4-0 in NJAC play. Ariel Parada and Franco Catania had goals for Rutgers-Newark, which fell to 7-4-1, 2-2 in conference.

KEVIN SIMEK gave Montclair a 1-0 lead at the 13:10 mark with his first goal of the season. RAFAEL TERCI gave a great feed from the left side to Simek, who then deposited the pass into the lowe-right corner for the game's first goal.

Soglo made it a two-goal advantage with 6:31 to go before half as he picked up a loose ball in the Scarlet Raider zone, dribbled to his right and fired a shot that deflected into the upper right corner.

Rutgers-Newark cut the lead to 2-1 two minutes into the second half on Parada's fifth goal. But the Red answered that 11 minutes later on a Terci goal, his fifth making the score 3-1. The Red Hawks added another three minutes later as COLIN MULLIGAN deflected in a feed from Knapp.

Catania scored for the Scarlet Raiders in the 71^st minute pulling the hosts within 4-2 but as they did in their previous win on Wednesday at William Paterson, Montclair scored three times in the final 20 minutes to put the game away.

Soglo got the first as he battled for a long ball from goalkeeper MIKE SAALFRANK at 74:48. Knapp set up JAKE SEAMAN for the second with 11:49 to play with JUAN CARLOS MERINO capping the late-game spree with 96 seconds to go.

Saalfrank made one save to earn his ninth win of the year. MSU outshot Rutgers-Newark 23-9 and took all six corner kicks in the contest.

The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday, October 3 hosting in-state rival FDU-Florham at MSU Soccer Park beginning at 7:00 pm.