Montclair, NJ – The #20 Montclair State University men's soccer team will host The College of New Jersey for the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament at MSU Soccer Park this Wednesday. 

GAME INFO 
Kick off at MSU Soccer Park is slated for 7:00 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com. 
 
LAST TIME OUT 
Montclair notched the top seed and regular-season championship with a 1-1 tie against Rutgers-Camden. The Red Hawks recorded the first shot of the game with a header from THOMAS PUGLIESE that went wide right in the second minute. Montclair withstood some offensive pressure from Rutgers-Camden over the ensuing minutes, as the home side tallied four shots over the next 16 minutes, with PIERRE SOUMEILLANT notching a save. After LOGAN NENO had a shot blocked shortly after, SEBASTIAN LAPCZYNSKI placed a shot on frame that was parried away by Rutgers-Camden. In the 28th minute, Montclair continued to look for the breakthrough marker, as JAKE WINCHOCK rattled a shot on frame that was saved. Neither side recorded a shot on goal the remainder of the half as they went into the break scoreless. Rutgers-Camden opened the second half with a pair of shots that the Montclair defense blocked within the first seven minutes, with NOAH DINNAL recording an attempt on goal shortly after. In the 60th minute, the Scarlet Raptors keeper was shown a yellow card for tripping at the top of the box trying to prevent a breakaway. Lapczynski stepped up for the ensuing penalty kick and chipped a right-footed shot to the left side of frame to break the game open. Soumeillant tallied another stop in the 75th minute to preserve the advantage, as JOSH VIRGIL saw an attempt saved by Rutgers-Camden with under five minutes to go with the Red Hawks searching for a second marker. Two minutes later, a handball in the box led to a penalty kick for the home side, which they converted to equalize. The two sides traded shot attempts in the final moments, but the contest ended level at one, clinching the 2025 New Jersey Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship for the Red Hawks. 
 
2025 TEAM LEADERS 
MONTCLAIR STATE (12-1-5, 5-1-3 NJAC) 
Goals: TOMAS MONTEIRO, 9 
Assists: CARLOS BEDOYA, 6 
Points: Two tied with 20 
Shots: KEVIN CONTRERAS, 44 
Saves: PIERRE SOUMEILLANT, 25 
Wins: Two tied with 6 
 
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (10-4-5, 4-3-2 NJAC) 
Goals: Two tied with 9 
Assists: Chris Meder, 11 
Points: Chris Meder, 29 
Shots: Chris Meder, 42 
Saves: Sean Najdzinowicz, 50 
Wins: Sean Najdzinowicz, 7 
 
SCOUTING THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY 
The Lions are entering this matchup after a dominant 5-1 win against Rutgers-Camden in the NJAC Tournament quarterfinals, and finished with a 4-3-2 record in the NJAC Conference.  They have the best defensive record in the entire NJAC with only 15 goals allowed throughout the whole season, and were selected as the dark horse in the NJAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
The Red Hawks and the Lions will face off for the 71st time in their program's history. TCNJ owns the series at 37-28-6, but Montclair has won each of the last seven matchups. 
 
LAST MEETING 
The last time the Red Hawks faced the Lions was earlier this season when TOMAS MONTEIRO and SEBASTIAN LAPCZYNSKI both found the back of the net to get a hard-fought 2-1 victory at MSU Soccer Park. 
 
 
UP NEXT 
If Montclair State University wins, they will head into the NJAC Tournament final where they will either face Stockton University or Rowan University. If Montclair State advances to the final, it will be played this Saturday at MSU Soccer Park with the time yet to be determined.