Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University women's swimming & diving team topped Stevens in their season opener Saturday.

The women's team picked up a 166-96 decision as the men's team fell 150-112.

HOW IT HAPPENED (WOMEN)

• The Red Hawks grabbed the first two places in the 1,000-freestyle as newcomer KACIE GADZINSKI notched a victory in 11:25.6. JULIE TIEDEMANN was behind her in second with a mark of 11:31.2. Montclair claimed the top-three spots in the 200-free as ROURKE PERALTA was first in 2:01.01. Tiedemann took second (2:04.32), and CATTY GEYER was third (2:05.68).
• SOPHIA SHOPOVICK recorded victories in the 100-backstroke (1:01.45) and 200-back (2:17.68), as Peralta registered wins in the 50-free (24.52) and 100-free (55.06). ABBY BROCK claimed first in the 100-breaststroke (1:09.87), with rookie MARIANNE TASSINARI gaining wins in the 200-breaststroke (2:35.94) and 200-IM (2:17.36).
• Tiedemann (5:34.34) and Gadzinski (5:38.27) went 1-2 in the 500-freestyle, with the 400-freestyle relay team earning a win to cap off the afternoon. Tiedemann, Peralta, JULIANA SKOPP-CARDILLO, and Shopovick turned in a winning time of 3:48.41.

HOW IT HAPPENED (MEN)

• RYAN KAPPES and SEAN NUGENT went 2-3 in the 1,000-free as Kappes notched a mark of 10:38.47 and Nugent had 10:49.54. LUCAS MIGLIN took second in the 200 free (1:50.98), with teammate MICHAEL WOJCIECHOWICZ behind him in 1:51.72.
• LUCAS GOMES and SPENSER DUBOIS tallied back-to-back victories, with Gomes winning the 100-back (53.57) and Dubois the 100-breaststroke (58.98). Gomes picked up his second triumph of the day in the 50-free as he edged his Stevens competitor in the 50-free, touching the wall in 22.07.
• Dubois narrowly missed winning the 200-breaststroke, clocking in at 2:14.78 and losing by a mere .24. Montclair finished the day with a second-place mark of 3:19.13 in the 400-freestyle relay. Gomes, ANTHONY FERRARO, Miglin, and Wojciechowicz were the foursome in that race.

FROM THE POOL
"This was a great season opener for both teams after a decade or so, it was nice to renew the rivalry. Stevens was the perfect opponent, and we gave each other an afternoon of exciting races. Obviously happy our women started the year off with a win." Head Coach Brian McLaughlin.

UP NEXT
The Red Hawks visit Drew in their next meet on October 21, with the meet scheduled to begin at 1 pm.