Montclair, NJ – Junior
ELIZABETH CIMILLUCA had a goal and assist including the go-ahead score midway through the fourth period as No. 10 Montclair State edged Gwynedd Mercy, 3-2 at Sprague Field on Saturday afternoon.
KATELYN OSTERLIND and
YAEL YONAH each had a goal as the Red Hawks (6-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season while improving to 9-0 all-time against the Griffins (6-2). Alison Campbell and Tori Sherwood had a goal apiece for Gwynedd Mercy which dropped its second straight contest.
Yonah gave MSU a 1-0 lead 7:18 into the contest with her third goal of the season. Cimilluca got the ball at the top of the circle and dropped a pass down in front. Yonah collected the ball and made a spin move to her left before wrapping a shot around the keeper and inside the right post.
The Red Hawks held that lead until a wild third period that saw three goals in a span of five minutes. The Griffins tied the game on a goal by Campbell, her sixth of the season with 8:14 remaining. Montclair would regain the lead four minutes later when Osterlind finished off a pass from
MADDIE FREEMAN putting MSU up 2-1. Gwynedd Mercy answered 51 seconds later off a penalty corner. Michaela Swenk lifted a ball from the top of the arc toward the goal. Sherwood was able to bat the pass down inside the right post knotting the game at 2-2 with 3:54 to go in the quarter.
Montclair would take the lead with 7:18 remaining in the fourth.
LINDSEY BICHER intercepted a clearing pass just outside the Griffins defensive arc and made two touches before feeding Cimilluca. The Red Hawks' leading scorer pushed the ball past a defender into the arc and ripped a shot by keeper Abi Kennedy giving MSU a 3-2 advantage.
Senior goalkeeper
NICOLE ANDRIANI would preserve the lead with two saves in the final minute. The first came on a shot by Lauren Jani with 38 seconds left with the second a stop against Campbell off a corner with 13 ticks to play.
Andriani finished with eight saves while Kennedy made seven as each team took 11 shots in the contest. Montclair State held an 11-8 advantage in corners.
The Red Hawks are back in action on Wednesday, September 25 with a road trip to Madison, NJ. Montclair faces FDU-Florham at Robert T. Shields Field at 7:00 pm.
