NEWARK, NJ – An early goal put Rutgers-Newark in catch-up mode against No. 17 Montclair State as the Scarlet Raiders fell, 2-0, in New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Alumni Field.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Scarlet Raiders (5-5-0, NJAC 1-3-0) fell for the third time in a row in NJAC play despite seven first-half saves by freshman Matt Broomall.  The Red Hawks piled up a 12-5 edge in shots in the opening 45 minutes before finishing with a 17-9 advantage.  Each team tried five corner kicks.

Rutgers-Newark had chances with sophomore forward Edgar Abreu putting two shots on goal and seniors Gabriel Avans and Nick Kyprianou forcing the Red Hawks to make saves.

It was the second straight NJAC win for Montclair State after a 3-2 last-second loss to William Paterson while the Raiders failed to score in a league match for the first time this season.

The Red Hawks (9-1-0, NJAC 3-1-0) got a shutout win thanks to three first-half saves by senior goalkeeper Anthony Rogic and a hustling team save 15-1/2 minutes into the second period by junior defender Matt Slattery.  It was the fourth shutout of the season for MSU and its second straight in league play.

Red Hawk freshman midfielder Lucas Terci set up both goals with perfectly-placed kicks.  Off the first foul of the night, Terci lofted a curling free kick from 40 yards out in front of the Red Hawk bench that found freshman defender Evan Beck in the left edge of the box for a header which shocked Rutgers-Newark just 45 seconds into the match.

In the 19th minute, Terci served a corner kick from the left side across the box to freshman forward Almir Batista who headed in the insurance goal into the left side.

Rutgers-Newark travels to The College of New Jersey for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday while MSU hosts defending NJAC champion Rutgers-Camden at 6 p.m.