Montclair State University Athletics

Montclair, NJ – The #15 Montclair State University Men's Soccer team posted a 3-0 shutout victory on Senior Night over Rutgers-Camden on Saturday night, clinching the 2026 New Jersey Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (14-2-2, 6-0-2 NJAC) saw an early shot attempt from JOSH VIRGIL going just left of the post in the fourth minute, as TOMAS MONTEIRO saw an attempt stopped by the Scarlet Raptors three minutes after. Montclair continued to sit on the front foot, as SEBASTIAN LAPCZYNSKI notched a shot attempt in the 10th minute that went over the bar. The two sides held each other without a shot for the next 10 minutes, with the Red Hawks breaking through in the 22nd minute. Rutgers-Camden's right back played the ball back to a center back, with Monteiro dispossessing the Scarlet Raptor, stepping towards goal, and slotting a right-footed shot past the keeper.
• Montclair doubled their advantage just minutes after, as TYLER DIAZ drew a foul in the box after the keeper lost possession of the ball. Lapczynski stepped up to take the ensuing penalty kick, striking it with his right foot to the right side of goal. Neither team would record another shot attempt until the Red Hawks tacked on their final marker of the night in the 32nd minute. Lapczynski slipped a through ball past multiple Rutgers-Camden defenders, with IVAN GARCIA flicking the ball to KENET LOPEZ curling around a center back. The midfielder drew the last defender towards him, pushing the ball across to the front of goal for a one-time shot from LOGAN NENO to make the margin three at the half.
• Rutgers-Camden recorded its first shot of the night in the 52nd minute, as the Montclair defense continued to play tight. Lopez looked for goal shortly after, as the Scarlet Raptors keeper notched a stop on the attempt. The visitors notched another pair of shots as the game eclipsed the 70-minute mark, and would only register one more attempt over the remainder of the night, coming in the 87th minute. Montclair recorded one final shot on goal a minute after, as MAX PERRY saw his shot saved by the keeper. The Red Hawks tallied one more shot shortly after, sealing the victory in their regular season home finale.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• The Red Hawks clinched their 12th NJAC Regular Season Championship with the victory, their fifth over the last eight seasons. They hold the number for most in NJAC history since the creation of the Regular Season Championship, with the next-highest program having four.
• Monteiro increased his NJAC-leading goal total to 14 for the campaign, having scored in three of Montclair's last four games. He sits in the top ten in the nation for goals, having collected 22 goal contributions for the year.
• Lapczynski has tallied a goal in four of his last five games, pushing his total to six for the season. He is 10-for-11 for his collegiate career from the penalty spot over three years.
• Neno tallied his fifth goal of the season and fourth over his last three games. The assist for Lopez was his first of the year, with Garcia picking up his sixth.
• PIERRE SOUMEILLANT tallied his 13th victory of the year between the posts for the Red Hawks.
• As a team, the Red Hawks held a 18-4 advantage in shots, including a 8-0 edge in shots on goal. The contest marked the second time this season in which Montclair has held an opponent without a shot on goal (Brooklyn College, September 7). 
• Montclair ranks second in the nation in scoring with 63 goals, one off the top spot across the country held by Saint John's of Minnesota. The Red Hawks also rank second in the nation in goal differential, sitting at plus-52.
• The Red Hawks have scored 25 more goals than the next highest NJAC program, and have accounted for over 20 percent of the total goals scored in the 10-team conference.
• Montclair has posted 10 clean sheet victories this season, ranking first in the NJAC and tied for third in the nation.

FROM THE FIELD

Quote to be Added.

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will close out the regular season on Wednesday, October 31 with a trip up Route 46 to face William Paterson. Kickoff from Wayne, NJ is scheduled for 7:00 PM.