Montclair State University Athletics

Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University Men's Soccer team used another high-powered offensive showing to secure its third-straight victory, taking down Hunter 7-0 on Wednesday evening at MSU Soccer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (3-1-0) tallied a trio of shots over the opening 10 minutes before finding the back of the net shortly after, as KENET LOPEZ and IVAN GARCIA helped win possession on a loose ball well outside the 18, with Garcia taking a few steps toward the box and threading a ball to TOMAS MONTEIRO. The striker notched a left-footed shot past the keeper towards the far post to break the scoring open. Montclair doubled their lead in the 20th minute, as KEVIN CONTRERAS collected the ball outside of the box and maneuvered through the Hunter back line to rip a shot into the top portion of the net.
• Montclair continued to push on the front foot as the half progressed, collecting nine shots over the remainder of the period. Hunter stood tall defensively, maintaining the gap at two going into the break. The home side broke through again just past three minutes into the second stanza, as LOGAN NENO won a header just outside of goal, flicking a pass to Monteiro who struck for his second marker of the day. The striker completed a hat trick five minutes later, as he collected a throw-in from SEBASTIAN LAPCZYNSKI from the near side of the field, made a turn past a defender in the box, and slotted a low shot past the keeper.
• In the 57th minute, the Red Hawks capitalized on an initial clearance from Hunter, as THOMAS PUGLIESE made a run and sent a header back into the box that found the feet of JOSH VIRGIL. The midfielder settled the ball with his right foot and sent a left-footed attempt into the back of the net. After the visitors notched a shot on goal in the 61st minute, the Red Hawks countered with two attempts of their own before a set piece would vault in the sixth score of the night 11 minutes later.
• Following a stoppage in play, JHON MENDEZ sent a right-footed free kick in from the near touch line that was flicked towards goal by KYLE MOORE. The ball eventually found the feet of UGO UZOMECHINA, who stepped towards frame and fired a right-footed shot past the keeper. Montclair recorded their final goal of the night in the 81st minute, as Pugliese collected a pass from outside the box, pushed through one defender and turned past another, and rifled a left-footed attempt into the near corner of the net.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Monteiro's hat trick was the first of his collegiate career, marking his fourth multi-goal performance. He has scored in every game this season for Montclair and has seven goal contributions on the campaign.
• Pugliese notched his first career appearance with multiple goal contributions, finishing the night with a goal and assist.
• Contreras has scored in back-to-back contests, with Virgil tallying the first goal of his Montclair career. Uzomechina's tally marked the first of his collegiate career.
• Garcia has notched a goal contribution in two of Montclair's last three games as he recorded his second assist of the season. Moore and Neno also added their second assists of the season, with Lapczynski collecting his first. The set piece goal marked the first collegiate assist for Mendez.
• PIERRE SOUMEILLANT tallied two saves across 73 minutes in goal, with GEORGE KOSTIS JR. sealing the final 18 to secure another clean sheet victory.
• Montclair recorded its third-straight shutout, having not allowed a goal in 313 minutes of play dating back to its season opener on September 1. There has been a stretch of three or more consecutive shutouts in every season dating back to 2017 for the Red Hawks.
• The Red Hawks held a 25-3 advantage in shots, including a 12-2 mark on goal. Montclair has allowed just three shots across its last two contests combined.
• As a team, Montclair has amassed 17 goals over its last three games from 10 different scorers.

FROM THE FIELD

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UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will travel to open a weekend slate in Atlanta, GA beginning with a clash against Oglethorpe on Friday, September 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.