Box Score Lancaster, Pa. – The Montclair State men's soccer team outlasted No. 4 Franklin & Marshall College 4-2 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw to advance to the Sectional Tournament in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship next weekend.

Montclair State (17-4-2) will face No. 9 Kenyon College (19-1-2) in the Sectional Semifinal next Saturday. Centre College (18-3-1) and Claremont Mudd-Scripps (16-3-2) will join them with the winners of the semifinals meeting the Sectional Final Sunday. The winner will advance to the NCAA Division III Final Four in North Carolina beginning December 6. The Red Hawks will be making their eighth trip to the Sweet 16, and their second straight appearance.

Off a free-kick in the fifth minute, the Diplomats (17-3-1) had a header by A.J. Kopacz go wide of the frame. The Diplomats continued to apply early pressure, with junior MICHAEL MEJIA sprawling out to deny Kopacz in the eighth minute. The Red Hawks were able to stabilize and had an attempt from MICHAEL KNAPP go wide in the 19th minute.

Franklin & Marshall's Dallen Moore had another go at goal in the 23rd minute, but Mejia was there to deflect the shot over the crossbar and out of bounds. With just over eight minutes left in the opening half, the junior kept the Diplomats off the scoreboard, redirecting an opportunity wide of the post. Neither side was able to push a goal across in the first half despite F&M holding a commanding 12-3 edge in shots.

Over the first 14 minutes of the second stanza, neither side was able to generate a shot attempt. In the 60th minute, STEFAN KOROMAN bent in a cross, but NIXON SOGLO was unable to get a head on it. The chance was plucked out of the air by the Diplomats goalkeeper. Soglo had the Red Hawks first golden scoring opportunity, as his low shot inside the 18-yard box was blocked the defense.

In the 70th minute, senior DAMIAN KOLODZIEJ deflected a free-kick try from JUSTIN GOLDBERG that trickled wide of the post. In a significant contrast from the first half, the play was controlled in the midfield during the second period. Both teams struggled to find the final piece that was needed to break the scoreless draw. Goldberg broke in on the Diplomats goalkeeper with 10 minutes left in the frame, but he was unable to corral the ball after his first touch.

Montclair State almost won the game in regulation, as a header by rookie OSCAR SANCHEZ hit the crossbar and caromed away. Sanchez got on the end of the rebound, and his second chance was tipped out of bounds by a defender. That was the final opportunity for either side, and the game went into overtime.

Mejia kept 0-0 deadlock in the 99th minute, robbing J.T. Mogan from in close after a corner-kick from the Diplomats. That was the only shot in the first extra session, and the game moved onto the second overtime. Senior IAN JOHNSON opened the second overtime by lofting a free-kick into the box that was headed on goal by BROGAN QUIGLEY. Keeper Sebastian Jenkins stopped Quigley's quick header, and the rebound was cleared away. The Red Hawks were given consecutive corner kicks in the 106th minute but were unable to find the back of the net.

After a scoreless 110 minutes, the game moved to penalty kicks. Both teams converted their first penalty, but MSU was put in the driver's seat after F&M's second attempt sailed wide. The Red Hawks made their second, while both sides added tallies in the third round. Mejia made a save on Jack Brandt's kick in the fourth round, giving Montclair a chance to win it. Sanchez stepped and connected, propelling the team into the Sweet 16.

Mejia made six saves in regulation and overtime, with Soglo and Sanchez attempting two shots each. Kopacz led Franklin & Marshall with three shots. F&M out-shot MSU 16-11 in the game and had six of the seven shots on goal.