Montclair State University Athletics

Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University Men's Soccer team won its fifth-straight game on Monday night, taking down Centenary 7-0 at MSU Soccer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (8-2-0) were on the front foot from the opening whistle, accumulating eight shots over the first ten minutes, including a pair on goal. They broke the scoring open in the 11th minute, as CARLOS BEDOYA served an out-swinging corner kick that took a deflection to the feet of JOHANDY BALBUENA VENTURA, who punched a shot past the keeper. Montclair doubled their lead seven minutes later, as SEBASTIAN LAPCZYNSKI chipped a leading ball over the top of the defense from just inside midfield to a surging TOMAS MONTEIRO. The striker made a run towards the end line and centered the ball for JOSH VIRGIL, who flicked the ball into the back of the net.
• That combination play kicked off what would be a flurry of goals for the Red Hawks, as Bedoya collected the ball on the Montclair half of the field and curled a ball around a defender to Monteiro, who collected the pass with one man to beat, slotting a shot to the lower right post along the near side end line. The following minute, KEVIN CONTRERAS tucked a through ball towards the far end line for IVAN GARCIA, who chipped a cross towards the center of goal that was headed in by Monteiro to extend the margin to four. 
• Less than 30 seconds later, Virgil reversed the field with a cross towards the far side that found Contreras, who collected the ball, made a run to just inside the box, and ripped a right-footed shot by the keeper. The Red Hawks kept pushing offensively throughout the half, collecting eight more shot attempts over the final 25 minutes, including a sequence in the 29th minute where KYLE MOORE and JAYDEN WESLEY each put a shot on goal that had to be parried away by the Cyclones keeper to keep the gap at five at the break.
• Montclair tacked on a trio of attempts on frame over the opening 25 minutes of the second half, followed by a shot from NOOR ERAKY from outside the box that rang off the woodwork. Shortly after, YASEEN DIAB beat a defender from the far wing, sending a right-footed ball towards goal where GABE RODRIGUEZ slipped past the back line to head the ball into the back of the net. The Red Hawks tallied their final marker of the night in the 76th minute, as a clearance from the Cyclones was cut off by Eraky, who turned and booted a left-footed rocket curling past the keeper into the far post.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• The Red Hawks notched their fourth performance this season of six or more goals, outscoring opponents 29-0 over five home contests. Their 39 goals on the season and plus-27 goal differential rank second in the nation behind Saint John's (MN).
• Montclair amassed a season-high 35 shots across the night while limiting Centenary to just five attempts. The Red Hawks have six games this season in which they have limited an opponent to a single-digit shot total. They have yet to allow more than seven shots on goal in a game.
• The Red Hawks have posted clean sheets in each of their last three games, having not allowed a goal in 310 minutes. Montclair has recorded two stretches of 300 or more minutes in between goals allowed.
• Monteiro's brace marked his third multi-goal performance of the season and sixth of his collegiate career. He leads the team and New Jersey Athletic Conference with 10 goals, along with 14 overall goal contributions for the campaign. The striker added his fourth assist of the year, with three coming in Montclair's last four contests.
• Contreras tallied a goal and an assist for the third time in his last four appearances, increasing his season totals to five goals and three assists. Virgil's goal and assist marked his first game of multiple goal contributions this season and second of his Montclair career. 
• Bedoya notched a pair of assists to push his season total to a team-leading six, which is tied for second in the NJAC. 
• Balbuena Ventura and Eraky each scored their first collegiate goal, with Diab picking up his first collegiate assist. Rodriguez registered his second goal of the season during the second half.
• Garcia's assist marked his third of the campaign, with Lapczynski tallying his second.
• Four Red Hawks combined for the shutout in goal, led by PIERRE SOUMEILLANT with three saves. JOE FARMER made his collegiate debut over the final 21 minutes and collected a save.

FROM THE FIELD

"Happy to close out nonconference play with a win tonight. We were able to get a lot of guys some minutes, as well as others some rest. Pleased with another solid defensive showing that led to some scoring chances on the other end. Looking forward to opening NJAC play on Wednesday night." - Head Coach Todd Tumelty

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will kick off NJAC play on Wednesday, September 30 against newcomer New Paltz. Kickoff from MSU Soccer Park is scheduled for 7:00 PM.