Montclair, NJ – Freshman AMER LUKOVIC scored on a penalty kick in the 51^st minute lifting Montclair State past Gordon College, 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship on Saturday afternoon.

On a blustery, rainy day at MSU Soccer Park, where the game was delayed due to lightning at one point, the Red Hawks (17-3-1) move on to the second round where they will face Washington College (MD.) on Sunday, November 14 at 5:00 pm.

Brody Veleber made two saves for the Fighting Scots (12-6-2) that had earned its way into the tournament by capturing the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship last weekend as the No. 4 seed, beating Salve Regina, 2-1 on a goal with six seconds left in the second overtime.

Weather definitely played a factor in the first half as the whipping winds kept the offense to a minimum. The teams were able to muster five total shots (Gordon 3-2), however none on frame. MSU's JOSIAH CRAWFORD sent one high in the sixth minutes with the Scots' Chase Gwynn missing in the same fashion in the 10^th minute.

Casey Torres of Gordon had an attempt blocked with 21:55 remaining with a shot by Julius Swaim going off mark in the 38^th minute. Montclair got the final shot of the half, but Lukovic's right footer went wide right.

Lukovic, the NJAC Rookie of the Year, snapped the tie after Gordon was whistled for a handball inside the box. The first-year Red Hawk stepped to the line and converted the opportunity for his 17^th tally of the season. ANTHONY PELAEZ would get a chance to extend that lead in the 64^th minute with a shot to the high center of the game, but Veleber saved that keeping the game at a goal.

Gordon though would begin to step up the pressure and came within inches of knotting the contest in the 71^st minute. George Coogan the IV sent a header into the low right corner smothered by MSU keeper SHANE KEENAN just in front of the goal line. Four minutes later, it was Ben Mollenhauser's turn, however his shot was also kept out of the net by Keenan.

Keenan totaled two saves as he earned his eighth shutout of the season and Montclair State 13^th.

Each team had seven shots with the Red Hawks taking three of the four corner kicks in the match.