Newark, NJ – The Montclair State University women's soccer (8-0-4, 3-0-1 NJAC) senior, KYLIE PRENDERGAST, put together a hat trick performance to lead the Red Hawks past Rutgers-Newark, 4-0, on Saturday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

·       Montclair wasted no time getting itself on the scoreboard. In just the third minute of the game, SHANNON MULLINS found MACKENZIE ALBERT for a goal to take a 1-0 advantage.

·       Prendergast's first goal came not too far after at the 10:20 timestamp, when she fired a shot into the back of the net to push the lead out to 2-0.

·       Montclair kept the pressure up in the first half, continuing to put shots up. In the 25^th minute, Guzzardo pushed a ball up to Prendergast, who finished for her second goal and gave Montclair a 3-0 advantage, one they took into the second half.

·       The Scarlet Raiders, in the first 13 minutes of the second half, outshot Montclair 3-1, but were unable to secure a goal. They continued to avoid the shutout in the 64^th minute with a shot and rebound, but Red Hawk goalkeeper SALANGE BELL denied both shots and kept Newark off the board.

·       The hat trick came at the 77:39 time stamp, where Guzzardo took the set piece and kicked it up to Prendergast, who finished it and finished the game off, 4-0.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

·       Prendergast's hat trick was the first for Montclair since JULIE BAKER's back on September 30, 2023. It was also her second career hat trick, with her first coming on October 5, 2022, in an 8-0 victory against John Jay.

·       While Montclair has been sensational on offense this season, it's been just as good on defense, earning its sixth shutout of the season. Bell also made five saves in the clean sheet.

·       Guzzardo saw her first multi-assist game of her young collegiate career.

·       Montclair continues its unbeaten season and is the only remaining NJAC team that has yet to face defeat.

FROM THE FIELD

"I thought we played really good soccer in the first half. We were able to get an early goal and that kind of gave us very good momentum throughout the first 45 minutes. Rutgers-Newark did a great job adjusting at halftime to make the game a lot more difficult. We were happy to get three points on the road and we look forward to another opportunity on Wednesday night." - Head Coach Pat Naughter

UP NEXT

Montclair State University will be on the road on Wednesday, October 14, when it travels to take on William Paterson at 7:00 p.m.