Montclair, NJ – The #16 Montclair State University men's soccer team surged past Worcester Polytechnic Institute 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at MSU Soccer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (4-0-2) broke the game open 65 seconds in, as CARLOS BEDOYA served a left-footed ball in from the far side of the field that was flicked by a header from DANNY TOBON to the feet of KENET LOPEZ. The midfielder collected the ball and ripped a shot that took a partial deflection into the near side of the net.
• WPI tried to find the equalizer in the 18th minute, as a pair of shots had to be parried away by DIESEL FIORE both before and after a corner kick sequence. KEVIN CONTRERAS sent a shot towards goal six minutes later that was collected by the Engineers keeper. The Red Hawks tallied two shots on goal in the final five minutes of the first half, but could not double their advantage.
• Montclair struck in the 60th minute, as Tobon curved a service in from the near edge of the box that found its way to the near post. With the ball loose in front of goal, KYLE MOORE gathered and sent a right-footed shot past the keeper. Nine minutes later, the home side pushed the advantage to three, as KEVIN CONTRERAS picked up a loose ball right on the edge of the box on the far side, made a run toward the end line, and crossed a ball to AIDEN CUMMINGS who capitalized with a shot on frame.
• The Red Hawks added their fourth and final goal of the afternoon in the 79th minute, as HAYDEN MCCARTHY forced a WPI turnover and flicked a pass to Tobon, who surged through multiple defenders and tucked a shot towards the top of the net. Montclair almost saw a fifth strike, as THOMAS PUGLIESE rocketed a shot from well outside the box in the 85th minute that had to be collected by the keeper. Fiore notched a save shortly after, sealing the shutout victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Tobon finished the day with a goal and two assists to lead the way offensively for Montclair. He leads the team with six goal contributions on the campaign, and leads the team in goals and is tied for the most assists of the group.
• Lopez notched his first career goal for the Red Hawks, with Bedoya collecting his second assist of the season.
• Moore and Cummings each tallied their first collegiate goals, with Contreras and McCarthy recording their first career assists.
• Fiore collected three saves in goal for Montclair, notching his fifth shutout of the campaign. He leads the NJAC and is tied for the nation-lead in clean sheets, allowing just one goal in six starts.
• As a team, Montclair ranks second in the country with five shutouts as well as goals allowed with one. They are holding teams to a .200 goals against average, which is tied for ninth in the nation.
• The Red Hawks have collected five clean sheets through their first six games for the first time since the 2008 season, when the team allowed just one goal through their opening 540 minutes.
• Montclair has not allowed a goal in 376 minutes dating back to August 31 against Rhodes College.
• Offensively, the Red Hawks outshot the Engineers 23-5 and held a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal.
• Montclair is unbeaten through six contests for the third time in four seasons.

FROM THE FIELD

"We had a tough start to the game, but the energy picked up in the second half. I was pleased with the way the team responded, and it was great to see some rookies scoring goals when they got their opportunities." - Head Coach Todd Tumelty

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will continue their three-game homestand on Saturday, September 20, as they host Vassar. Kickoff from MSU Soccer Park is scheduled for 7:00 PM.