Box Score Lancaster, Pa. – The Montclair State University men's soccer team scored two second-half goals to knock off Hobart College 2-0 in the First Round of the Division III Men's Soccer Championship Saturday.
The Red Hawks (17-4-1) will face No. 4 Franklin & Marshall College (17-3-0) at Tylus Field in Lancaster, Pa. with a berth to the "Sweet 16" on the line. The Diplomats defeated Penn State University-Harrisburg (15-6-1) 1-0 in the First Round matchup.
Junior goalkeeper
MICHAEL MEJIA had to come up with big stops early, denying the Statesmen in the seventh and ninth minutes. Sophomores Anthony Palaez and
BROGAN QUIGLEY both had shots on goal for Montclair, with Quigley notching a low shot that was stopped with a diving save by Hobart's Brian Salazar.
Rookie
OSCAR SANCHEZ nearly put the Red Hawks on the board with eight minutes left in the half, but the shot was punched away by Salazar for a corner kick. On the ensuing corner, senior Damien Kolodziej sent his header just wide. Neither side was able to put a goal away before halftime, and the Red Hawks held a 5-4 advantage in shots with Mejia making two saves over the first 45 minutes.
The Statesmen were called for a handball in the box 4:49 into the second half, giving MSU a penalty kick. Kolodziej stepped up to the spot and blasted the penalty kick into the back of the goal for his third tally of the season. Playing from behind, Hobart pressed on looking for an equalizer. A goalmouth scramble nearly saw a ball cross the goal line, but the Red Hawk defense, along with Mejia, cleared it off the line. The follow-up shot from Nick Wigglesworth trickled just wide.
The Red Hawks nearly doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, as senior
COLIN MULLIGAN was deflected away by Salazar. Montclair found their second goal shortly after in the 65th minute. Freshman
JUSTIN GOLDBERG had his initial shot stopped but was able to head the rebound to the Mulligan. Mulligan cranked a shot past the goalkeeper for his second goal of the year.
Montclair's defense did an excellent job of limiting shots in the second half, stifling the Statesmen when they entered the attacking third of the field. Hobart was unable to put a shot on goal over the final 45 minutes, and the Red Hawks were able to claim the 2-0 victory.
Palaez, Kolodziej, and Mulligan all attempted two shots in the victory, while Mejia earned his sixth shutout of the season. Pete Critchlow took four shots for Hobart, as Salazar made six stops in goal.
