Union, NJ – Seniors
KAITLYN ARCEDE and
RHIANNON BROWN each scored twice as Montclair State kept its NJAC Tournament hopes alive with a 12-11 victory over Kean University on Tuesday afternoon,
TRISTIN KONEN and
CHELSEA STACK scored twice apiece as the Red Hawks (7-6) improved to 3-2 in conference play with the win. Montclair is currently one game ahead of the Cougars (7-8) for the fourth and final spot in the upcoming conference tournament.
Montclair State closes out its league slate on Saturday, April 30 at 1:00 pm hosting Rowan. Meanwhile the Cougars are down in Galloway, NJ for a 2:00 pm matchup with Stockton.
Both teams stayed within striking distance of the other throughout the contest. Kean led 3-1 and 4-2 late in the first quarter before MSU used a four-goal run bridging the first two periods, taking a 6-4 advantage on a Konen goal with 13:07 remaining in the second. The Cougars closed within 7-6 with nine minutes to play, however Konen, Arcede and Stack each found the back of the net during a four-minute span helping the Red Hawks to a 10-6 lead with 5:22 left.
Kean would get the final two goals of the second quarter to trim the deficit to 10-8 at the break.
HALEY DORAN registered the only goal of the third extending the lead to three, but Sarah Wagner and Katie Pileggi tallied twice in the first five minutes, making the score 11-10.
Brown came through for MSU with 6:48 remaining. recording her third as MSU led 12-10. Pileggi responded 72 seconds later putting the differential at a goal with 5:36 to go.
The Red Hawks won the ensuing draw and had three chances to add to the lead, however, Cougar goalkeeper Nicole Peters stopped each individual shot. Kean did get an opportunity with two minutes left as Wagner was awarded a free-position attempt with 1:56 on the clock. But MSU goalkeeper
ALLYN LILIEN stopped that shot and the Red Hawks were able to flip the field for nearly the remainder of the game.
Kean got one more possession and were awarded another free-position chance with 33 ticks. The Cougars though with turn it over with getting off a shot. Katilin Zazzaro scooped up the ground ball and Montclair ran out the clock to end the game.
Lilien made nine saves and also added three caused turnovers and a team-high six ground balls.
