Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University women's soccer team travels to face Swarthmore to open the 2024 season on Friday.

GAME INFO
Kickoff from Swarthmore, PA is scheduled for 1:00 PM, with live stats and video links available on montclairathletics.com.

2023 REWIND
Montclair blanked Alvernia 3-0 to kick off the campaign and posted quality wins over New Paltz, Misericordia, and Vassar leading into their New Jersey Athletic Conference opener against NJCU, which they won 6-2. The Red Hawks blanked regionally ranked Stevens 2-0 two nights later and would go undefeated in their next five games, outscoring opponents 12-2 during the stretch. They closed the regular season with three-straight shutout victories and defeated Stockton 3-2 in a double overtime thriller in the NJAC Tournament Semifinals. Montclair's season was rewarded with an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament after posting 13 wins.

TEAM LEADERS (2023)
MONTCLAIR STATE
Goals: AILEEN CAHILL, 12
Assists: KYLIE PRENDERGAST, 9
Points: AILEEN CAHILL, 31
Shots: AILEEN CAHILL, 60
Saves: HALEY MARTIN, 50
Wins: HALEY MARTIN, 12
 
SWARTHMORE
Goals: Ava Gizzie, 10
Assists: Keren Maze, 7
Points: Ava Gizzie, 25
Shots: Ava Gizzie, 104
Saves: Lila Travers, 57
Wins: Lila Travers, 5

SCOUTING SWARTHMORE
The Garnet spent five weeks ranked during the 2023 season in which they amassed a 12-4-2 record. After winning eight conference games, they narrowly fell to Franklin & Marshall in the Centennial Conference Tournament Semifinals. They earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Bowdoin 1-0. Swarthmore ranked tied for second in the Centennial Conference Preseason Coaches Poll with 83 points and will aim for their third-straight season with double-digit victories.

SERIES HISTORY
Montclair holds a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series against Swarthmore, with the two sides meeting for the first time since 2017 due to a weather-canceled game during the 2023 season. The Red Hawks have outscored the Garnet 12-6 over six meetings, including a streak of four-straight victories from 1994 to 2015 where they posted three shutouts.

LAST MEETING
The Red Hawks fell to Swarthmore 4-2 on September 13, 2017. Montclair took the initial lead in the contest, as Emily Beenders gathered a loose ball in the box and knocked in a shot. The Garnet leveled the contest in the 18th minute, but Beenders flicked in a volley from Tyler Madison in the 58th minute to reclaim the advantage for the Red Hawks. Swarthmore tallied the final three goals of the contest to claim the victory.

UP NEXT
The Red Hawks will travel to face Widener on Sunday, September 1. Kickoff from Chester, PA is scheduled for 3:00 PM.