The Red Hawks fell 4-3 in overtime to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)
opponent Ramapo College.
Photo Credit: Alex Gamboa
Montclair State men’s soccer dropped to 6-2 on the season in a thrilling 4-3 overtime loss to Ramapo College on Sept. 17. Ryan Campbell scored a hat trick for the Roadrunners, as well as the game-winning goal five minutes into the first overtime period, while Montclair State talisman Lucas Terci scored twice and assisted the third goal to continue his incredible form.
Ramapo came into the match carrying a five-game losing streak to the Red Hawks, but put together a clinical offensive performance to break the losing habit. Ramapo was able to turn five shots on target into four goals, while Montclair State was only able to score three of their nine attempts. Ramapo’s keeper Ryan Sprague put on an impressive display despite allowing three goals, notching six saves including two vital point blank stops on Montclair State forward Mike Olla. Ramapo improved to 6-0 on the season (1-0 NJAC).
Montclair State got off to a bright start when Mike Olla was brought down in the penalty box in the fourth minute of play. Terci stepped up and confidently fired the penalty into the back of the net, giving the Red Hawks a lead in the first ten minutes of a game for the 5th time this season.
Ramapo sophomore Campbell began his stellar night by heading in a corner kick in the 20th minute, assisted by Jorge Castro. Ten minutes later, Campbell latched onto a pass from Justin Olaya at the top of the box and fired a superb finish across the face of goal and into the side netting to put Ramapo up 2-1. The Roadrunners held onto their lead into the halftime break, but Montclair State quickly regained parity when Mike Taranto poked in a cross at the back post by Terci.
The Red Hawk’s tie only lasted about five minutes. Ramapo midfielder Jorge Castro lurked at the top of the 18 yard box on a corner kick, and when the ball rolled out to him, he was in the perfect position to fire a hard, low shot through a sea of Red Hawk defenders and past keeper Mike Saalfrank into the back of the net.
Ramapo then shifted to a more defensive approach, as Montclair State possessed the ball high up the field, pressing for a tying goal. They got what they were looking for in the 71st minute when another penalty went against the Roadrunners of Ramapo, and Terci was all too happy to convert it and tie the game 3-3.
The teams looked evenly matched going into overtime, each getting a shot away before Campbell took advantage of a mistake by Red Hawk left back Justin Clancy, as he latched onto a pass on the vacated left side and fired a low, hard shot across the goal with five minutes remaining in the first period of overtime to win the game.
Despite the tough loss, there was a bright spot for Montclair State as Terci broke the all-time assist record with 38. The Red Hawks went on to bounce back to 7-2 when they beat Moravian College 3-0 on Monday night.
The Red Hawks will take the field again at home on Saturday, Sept. 24 against Rutgers-Camden.
