Troy, NY - Freshman AMER LUKOVIC scored late in the second half to lift the fifth-ranked Montclair State to a 1-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Tuesday night at East Campus Stadium. With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 14-1-1, while the Engineers drop to 9-3-2.

Junior JOSIAH CRAWFORD drew a free-kick just outside the RPI penalty area in the 84th minute, setting the only goal of the match. Lukovic drilled a left-footed shot into the RPI five-man wall, but the ball caromed right back to him and followed a second strike that found its way past RPI senior goalkeeper Luke Brezak and into the back of the net.

The Engineers had a late chance to equalize when junior Josh Gaudiano found himself free on the right side of the 18, but his shot was blocked by a sprawling IAN CHESNEY, the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, with under two minutes to play.

Lukovic then nearly made it a second as he raced into the RPI box on the counter, but was denied by a trailing leg stop by Brezak from 12 yards out.

RPI had the better of the chances in the early stages of the game, including a header off the post by junior Ben Kogan in the 14th minute. Fifth-year senior Trevor Bisson then saw his header, which was labeled for the top half of the net, stopped by Montclair State senior goalkeeper SHANE KEENAN in the 24th minute.

Early in the second half, fifth-year senior Joe Di Miceli hit a half-volley just wide of the left post, after a failed clearance fell to him near the penalty spot. In the 59th minute, senior Paul Silva just missed the net on another attempt from inside the 18.

A free-kick from 20 yards out by Lukovic, in the 64th minute, was saved and held by Brezak. Less than a minute later, Gaudiano curled an attempt just wide of the right upright at the other end.

Brezak (9-3-2) finished with seven saves, while Keenan (10-0-0) had three. Montclair State out-shot the Engineers 13-11 overall, while corners were even at four apiece.

The Red Hawks are off until Saturday, October 23 when they face Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ at 7:00 pm.