Montclair, NJ – Seniors
VICTORIA ROSSI and
KAILEY DALGAUER each scored a goal as No. 10 Montclair State won its third straight game, edging New Paltz 2-1 at Sprague Field on Thursday evening.
Junior goalkeeper
NICOLE ANDRIANI made 11 saves for the Red Hawks, who are now 3-0 with all three victories coming by one-goal margins. MSU also improved to 13-1 all-time against the Hawks (0-1), who suffered their first loss of the season after winning two straight to open the year.
After an early save by Andriani, Montclair got on the board one second shy of the four-minute mark. Rossi chased down a long hit and drove in along the right side toward the cage. After getting tangled with the keeper, Rossi was able to pull the ball back before firing a shot inside the back post giving MSU an early 1-0 lead.
Montclair would get several more chances however the Hawks' Jamie Owens made three saves including back-to-back attempts by
ELIZABETH CIMILLUCA at the 13-minute mark. Cimilluca would be the catalyst for the next MSU goal five minutes later. The junior took away a clearing ball and drove back toward the circle before dishing off to Dalgauer on the right side. Dalgauer took two more steps before unleashing a rising shot from the right wing that tucked inside the far left post.
It was Dalauger's second of the season and put the Red Hawks in front, 2-0.
Andriani made that lead hold up the remainder of the half as she stopped seven shots, including consecutive attempts in the final minute before halftime. She would remain solid with four more in the second half before New Paltz finally broke through with 4:05 remaining.
Off a penalty corner, Jessica Ascenao blasted a shot from the top of the circle that ricocheted off a defender stick in front that sent the ball high in the air behind Andriani for the goal cutting the MSU lead to 2-1.
But that would be as close as the Hawks would get as Montclair was able to gain possession for most the final four minutes.
New Paltz outshot Montclair 19-11 in the game and held the advantage in penalty corners, 6-4.
The Red Hawks close out their early-season homestand on Saturday, September 8 against Cortland beginning at 5:00 pm.
