Montclair State University Athletics

Montclair, NJ – The #9 Montclair State University Men's Soccer team surged past Rutgers-Newark 4-0 in the 2026 New Jersey Athletic Conference Semifinals on Tuesday night at MSU Soccer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (16-2-2) played a tightly-contested opening 20 minutes, with the first shot attempt of the night coming on a free kick in the 24th minute on a CARLOS BEDOYA free kick that snuck through the wall. Both sides would notch another attempt before the Red Hawks broke through in the 28th minute, as SEBASTIAN LAPCZYNSKI launched a ball from just outside the Montclair goal across midfield to a breaking TOMAS MONTEIRO. The striker shedded a defender, won possession, and tucked a right-footed shot from just inside the box past the keeper. Neither team recorded a shot over the remainder of the opening stanza, as the Red Hawks took the 1-0 advantage into the break.
• Montclair came out of halftime on the front foot and doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, as KEVIN CONTRERAS surged past midfield from his own 18, wrapping a ball around the Rutgers-Newark back line to JOSH VIRGIL along the near wing. The midfielder made a run towards goal and ripped a left-footed attempt off the keeper and into the back of the net. The visitors would only tally a pair of shots over the first 20 minutes of the frame, with neither finding the face of goal. Montclair added a third in the 72nd minute, with IVAN GARCIA bending a ball to Virgil along the near wing again, with the senior sending in a service from just inside the box that was flicked in by Monteiro.
• The Red Hawks scored their final marker of the night a minute later, as ROBBY DASLER made a run along the far touch line and played in a right-footed cross that was tapped in by LOGAN NENO to help seal the postseason victory. Montclair accumulated the game's next four shots, including an attempt that went off the woodwork in the 81st minute. The Scarlet Raiders were only able to notch one more shot the rest of the way as the Montclair back line sealed another clean sheet victory. 

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Montclair will play in its 14th NJAC Championship game following the victory and its first since the 2023 season.
• Monteiro's brace marked his third of the campaign, adding to his NJAC-leading total of 16 along with 25 goal contributions overall. He has scored in four of his last six games.
• Virgil added to his stellar season with his second performance with multiple goal contributions, finishing with a goal and an assist. He ranks second on the team and in the NJAC with eight assists for the year.
• Neno continued his strong form with another goal, increasing his scoring streak to five consecutive games and his season mark to seven. 
• Contreras notched his fifth assist of the year, with Dasler and Lapczynski each picking up their third.
• PIERRE SOUMEILLANT tallied his 15th victory of the season between the posts along with his seventh shutout, a total that ranks second in the league.
• The Red Hawks registered their NJAC-leading 12 clean sheet of the campaign, their third in a row. Montclair has held an opponent without a shot on goal three times as they outshot the Scarlet Raiders 15-5 for the night, including a 9-0 mark on goal.
• Montclair has scored 70 goals this season, moving them back into second in the nation in scoring this season. They have outscored opponents by 59 in 20 games.
• The Red Hawks extended their unbeaten streak to 15 games dating back to September 13 and improved their overall home record for the campaign to 9-0-2.

FROM THE FIELD

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UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will host #13 Rowan for the 2026 NJAC Men's Soccer Championship on Friday, November 6. Kickoff from MSU Soccer Park is scheduled for 7:00 PM.