Glassboro, NJ – The No. 3 Montclair State University men's soccer team rebounded from their first loss of the year with a 4-1 triumph over Rowan University on Saturday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Most of the first half was spent in the midfield, as the two sides combined for just six shots. The Red Hawks (10-1-1, 4-0-0 NJAC) broke through with 47 seconds left in the opening period. OWEN MURPHY delivered a free-kick into the box, and IAN CHESNEY got his head on it and past the goalkeeper for the 1-0 halftime lead.
- The Red Hawks needed 2:01 in the second half to double their lead. A long ball was sent down the sideline to AMER LUKOVIC, and the junior did the rest. He maneuvered around a defender, moved into the box, evaded the goalkeeper, and slipped a low shot that tucked inside the far post.
- Rowan responded with a tally in the 56th minute, but Montclair goalkeeper SHANE KEENAN preserved the one-goal lead with saves in the 59th, 63rd, and 67th minutes. The Red Hawks padded their margin in the 68th minute. ALFREDO ROJAS passed to Lukovic, who sent a low crossing pass back across the box where Murphy knocked it in.
- Montclair capped off the scoring with a marker in the 72nd minute. A long pass from OSBIN MENDEZ found the foot of ANTHONY VIOLA, and the sophomore weaved past his defender before stopping switching feet. He fired a left-footed into the top-center of the net, extending the lead to 4-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- With his goal, Lukovic recorded his 100th career, becoming the eighth student-athlete in program history to hit the century mark.
- Montclair was outshot 10-7, with the seven shots marking a season-low.
- Keenan made a season-high six saves in the victory.
FROM THE FIELD
"Rowan is always a tough place to play. However, I know guys were disappointed in our last outing, so I knew they would come to play today." Head Coach Todd Tumelty.
UP NEXT
The Red Hawks host Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, with the game time at MSU Soccer Park scheduled for 7 pm.
