Montclair, NJ. – The Montclair State University women's flag football team (5-1, 5-1 ECAC) battled another thriller with Eastern (12-2, 10-2 ECAC/AEC), where the Red Hawks took down the Eagles, 7-6, on Thursday.

How It Happened

• Montclair won the toss and deferred to the second half. Eastern went in the wrong direction on their first drive thanks to a tackle for loss by GENEVIEVE FARA, and were forced to punt.
• Montclair's first drive of the game started from the Eastern 25. After an incompletion on first down, Haddiyah launched a deep ball to SERENITY MUHAMMED for a 25-yard touchdown. Bell then connected with KIMORA WESTON on the extra point to take a 7-0 lead.
• Fara set the Red Hawks up nicely on the next drive with a 38-yard punt return, despite a flag guarding penalty. EMILY DEL ROSARIO paced the next drive with runs of 15, seven, and five. Bell connected with MAYA ANICO to get the ball all the way down to the Eastern 10, but the Eagles clamped down to force a turnover on downs, which included a sack on fourth down.
• With 9:00 to go in the second quarter, Fara ripped off another big punt return, this time of 37 yards, but a pair of negative plays forced Montclair to punt.
• The only play for Eastern that went into Montclair territory in the first half was on a 57-yard catch and run that was called back due to a penalty. Montclair had one final possession of the half that was highlighted by a 22-yard completion by Anico down to the Eagles' 10. With four goal-to-go snaps, however, Montclair was unable to punch it in, and the drive stalled to go into the half with a 7-0 score.
• Both defenses forced punts for the majority of the third quarter. The best drive of the third frame came from Eastern, who started at the MSU 32. In a drive that entered the fourth quarter, they got down to the 22 of the Red Hawks and took a shot to the endzone on fourth down. The ball ricocheted off several players before ending up in the hands of Muhammed for the interception.
• Montclair gave the ball right back to Eastern with an interception on the next drive and gave the Eagles excellent field possession at the MSU 15. The Red Hawks almost stalled the Eagles again, but a fourth-down throw found its mark to the endzone for a touchdown. Montclair denied the extra-point attempt to maintain the lead.
• Eastern did not get a chance to take the lead, however. Montclair regained possession of the ball and burned all 4:56 minutes they were given. The game came down to fourth and eight from the Eastern 28. Montclair went for it, and Fara hit Anico on a crossing route, and she turned it upfield for 13 yards to seal the monumental win for the Red Hawks.

Inside the Numbers

• Anico played both sides of the ball well today, leading the team in receiving with five catches for 47 yards. She also picked up five tackles.
• BRI CARTER was the leader on defense. She totaled seven tackles with three tackles for loss and two sacks.
• In her return to the field, Bell was 8-for-13 with 75 yards passing and a touchdown. She also rushed for seven yards.
• Montclair picked up a massive win against Eastern, who had just been tabbed #11 in the Women's College Flag Football Poll just yesterday.

From the Field

• "So proud of our effort today with only a two-day window to prepare for such an elite team. This was a total program win that hopefully we can build on as the season continues to unfold." Head Coach Jim Kelly

Up Next

• Montclair ends its three-game homestand with a matchup against Mount Saint Mary on Saturday, April 11. The game is set for noon.