A Montclair State player dribbles towards the circle.
Bryanna Luciano | The Montclarion
Montclair State University’s Field Hockey team shut out New Jersey Atlantic Conference (NJAC) rival William Paterson University Wednesday, Oct. 4 on their home turf. The Red Hawks added another win to their streak, improving their record to 12-0 and keeping their rank as no. 3 in the conference.
Junior Kailey Dalgauer played one of her feistiest games of the season, contributing to all three goals in the 3-0 victory over the Pioneers. Dalgauer committed seven shots on goal, two goals and one assist.
With 28:05 on the clock, Dalgauer connected with the cage from a solid shot at the top of the circle through traffic. The Red Hawks held the first goal of the game unassisted against the Pioneers who remained scoreless in the first half.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Dalgauer seemed hungry for more when she scored the second shot of the game for the Red Hawks after she received a corner insert pass on the right side by midfielder Meghan Mollahan. Dalgauer flipped a shot on the right post for her sixth goal of the season.
Not only did the midfielder have a crucial assist in the Red Hawks’ lead, but Mollahan acted as a key leader for Montclair State’s defense, which only allowed William Paterson two shots on goal the entire game.
Kaitlyn Struss added a third goal to Montclair State’s lead at the 51:17 mark with an assist by Dalgauer. The senior forward intercepted the ball from the Pioneers and laid one in the net after receiving a swift pass from the top of the circle. Struss leads the team with her 11th goal of the season.
Montclair State senior goalie Kaitlin Maguire and sophomore goalie Nicole Andriani worked together and used their strengths to leave the Pioneers scoreless throughout the game.
Although William Paterson’s goalie Mallory Rickerhauser made an impressive defensive effort with 12 saves, she could not freeze the Red Hawks offense. The Pioneers fell to its seventh straight loss in a row against Montclair State and the Red Hawks hold an impressive 2-0 record in NJAC league play.
