Union, NJ – The Montclair State University Women's Lacrosse team surged past Kean 15-7 in its 2026 regular season finale on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (6-7, 2-3 NJAC) broke the scoring open two and a half minutes in, as AMRA LUKOVIC scooped up a ground ball and slotted a shot past the goalkeeper within a few seconds. Kean generated a turnover on the ensuing trip up the field, leading to the leveler with 10:44 remaining in the first quarter. The two sides traded defensive stops over the next three minutes, with KYRA MORENA rocketing a shot off the post to lead to another ground ball pickup from Lukovic. On the same possession, CARA MCCARTNEY found Morena for another scoring opportunity to push the visitors in front. A few minutes later, McCartney notched another assist on a strike from KAELEY SEK to double the lead for the Red Hawks. Kean trimmed the margin with just over two and half minutes on the clock to make the score 3-2 after 15 minutes of play.
• Montclair struck right back in the opening 90 seconds of the second stanza, as Sek scored off a pass from LEXI ROBINSON. After Lukovic tallied the ensuing draw control, Morena found Robinson for a marker to push the lead to three. A minute later, the Cougars forced a turnover and capitalized with a marker on the other end to make the score 5-3. The Red Hawks countered with a big run over the next four minutes, kicked off by a successful clear attempt and goal from McCartney. After collecting the resulting draw control, Robinson scored to push the lead to four. Montclair repeated that process again as Lukovic scored with 7:58 on the clock to make the score 8-3. The two sides tightened up defensively, not allowing a goal again until the 1:39 mark, as Kean collected the final two goals of the opening half to make the margin at the break three.
• Kean continued its push into the third quarter by forcing a pair of turnovers, but would fall behind by another goal as Robinson capitalized on an extra-man opportunity at the 11:41 mark. Morena looked for another on the next possession with a shot on goal, but the Cougars countered with a goal to climb within three once again as the clock approached the eight-minute mark. The home side forced another turnover a few minutes later and sent a shot on goal that was stopped by JOEY GROTKOPF, leading to a tally on the other end from Morena off a feed from ASHLEY CASTILLO. Montclair rattled a pair of shots on goal in the final two minutes, but the score would hold at 10-6 going into the final 15 minutes.
• The Cougars scored their final marker of the game 60 seconds into the fourth quarter, as the Red Hawks would search for another strike with shots from Robinson and Lukovic that had to be stopped by the home goalkeeper. A pair of green cards and a yellow card from Kean would lead to another man-up opportunity for Montclair, who capitalized with a goal from Castillo to make the margin four. Shortly after, Robinson took a feed from Morena and found the back of the net to make the score 12-7 at the halfway point of the frame. Robinson scored another man-up goal with three and a half minutes remaining, as Lukovic did the same on the next possession to continue the run. McCartney struck for the final goal of the afternoon with 1:32 on the clock to make the final margin eight.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Robinson led the way offensively for the Red Hawks with six points, collecting a season-high five goals while adding an assist. She has scored three or more goals in four games this season.
• Lukovic notched her fifth hat trick over her last six games and seventh of the campaign. She also surpassed the 100-goal mark for her four-year Montclair career, along with Sek who tallied a pair of goals in the game.
• McCartney has tallied multi-goal performances in four of her last six games. Morena notched a pair of goals for the sixth time this season. 
• Grotkopf accumulated nine saves en route to the victory in net for the Red Hawks.
• Montclair held a 32-23 advantage in shots, including a 21-15 edge in shots on goal. Their defense helped generate 20 turnovers on the day.
• With the victory, the Red Hawks qualified for their third consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament and 10th in program history.

FROM THE FIELD

"Great team win today! We were able to stick to the game plan and come out on top. Very proud of this team!" - Head Coach Nicol Parcelluzzi

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will take on the top-seeded TCNJ in the 2026 NJAC Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday, April 29. First draw from Ewing, NJ is to be announced.