Chester, Pa. – The Montclair State University men's lacrosse team improved to 7-0 on the season after they defeated Widener, 13-6 on the road on Saturday afternoon.

How It Happened

• The two teams traded shots in the early going, with Widener firing two shots on goal that were denied by NICHOLI HALSE. The Pride took advantage of a turnover at the 11:11 mark and scored just eight seconds later for the game's opening goal. Montclair responded and responded strongly, seeing four different Red Hawks score in the next three minutes to go up 4-1 with 7:04 remaining in the first. Those goals came from RYAN VIERBUCHEN, JONATHAN SLUSSER, MAX MOROSOFF, and HENRY NORDSTROM. Widener scored two more goals in the final minute of the quarter, including one with three seconds remaining, to cut the lead to 4-3.
• Slusser kicked off the second-period scoring with two goals in a span of under a minute to push the Red Hawk lead to 6-3. Montclair saw a one-minute man-down situation at 8:50, but was able to kill it with a key save from Halse. Defense held strong for both sides until Vierbuchen scored on a 30-second man-up opportunity, putting a shot on goal and collecting the rebound to help Montclair go up four. He went right back on the attack and repeated the same action, pushing the score to 8-3. The Pride won the ensuing face off and scored before the horn to place the lead at 8-4 Montclair.
• Each team traded a possession with shots before BRIAN KELLY got himself on the board at the 12:20 timestamp. Widener answered at 10:53, but Montclair doubled down on goals from Kelly and Donahue to hold an 11-5 advantage. After a pair of saves from Halse, one got by him at 2:29 to try and keep Widner in the game, but Slusser scored again just 44 seconds later, and the game went 12-6 into the final frame.
• Goals were near impossible to find in the fourth quarter. Both teams forced each other into seven turnovers apiece. Widener saw three shots on goal in the quarter, but Halse stonewalled all. The lone goal of the quarter came off the stick of Slusser at the 8:41 mark, and Montclair held for a 13-6 road win.

Inside the Numbers

• Montclair is off to its best start to a season since 1989, when it went a perfect 13-0.
• Slusser saw the best outing of his collegiate career, leading the way with five goals.
• Halse nabbed the win in net and made 13 saves along the way.
• JACOB HOLICKI had a stellar outing on face-offs, winning 16 of 20 today.

From the Field

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Up Next

Montclair will play under the lights in its next matchup against Kean on Wednesday, March 17. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. start.