Photo Courtesy of montclairathletics.com
Last Sunday, the Montclair State women’s soccer team lost in the second round of the New England College tournament 3-2 in 2OT to SUNY Potsdam.
In the 39th minute, Red Hawk junior defender Michaela Knoblock scored on a cross from sophomore forward Emily Beenders. The Red Hawks were being outshot 9-2, but Knoblock’s first goal of the season gave the Red Hawks a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, SUNY Potsdam knotted the score up with a goal from junior midfielder Brook Falsion. In the 67th minute, Red Hawk junior midfielder Maddy McClelland corralled and finished another cross from Emily Beenders, who showcased her playmaking abilities on Sunday in Henniker, New Hampshire.
After taking the 2-1 lead, the Red Hawks held SUNY Potsdam scoreless for 20 minutes. In the 88th minute, Brook Falsion finished a cross from fellow junior midfielder Rylie Murray, forcing Montclair to go to overtime for the third time in four games this season.
The Red Hawks and the SUNY Potsdam Bears held each other off the scoreboard during the first OT period. Just one minute into the second OT period, Potsdam was awarded a penalty kick, which Rylie Murray scored to end the game in a 2-3 defeat for Montclair.
For Montclair, sophomore Emily Beenders stepped up with two assists and three shots on goal. Maddy McClelland scored her third goal of 2017 and is tied for first on the team with freshman forward Melanie Cunha.
After just four games, Melanie Cunha and Maddy McClelland have scored three goals on the season, while senior Tyler Madison has two goals and an assist. Offense should not be a problem in 2017 for Montclair. The Red Hawks have a balance of experience and precocious young talent to draw from and have generated eight goals in four games already this season.
Montclair was ranked #3 in the division, but currently sit at seventh place, right behind Rutgers-Camden, a team that the Red Hawks play, at home, on Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m., in a crucial division game.
Montclair State’s next game will be away at Swarthmore College. Swarthmore have won all five of their games this year, including a 3-0 drubbing of William Paterson on Sept. 1.
The Red Hawks have their work cut out for them in 2017. With games coming up against Ramapo College on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.—who have scored four goals in both of their games — and a game at home against Stevens Institute of Technology on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m; a team has allowed only two goals in four games this season. The Red Hawks will look to bounce back with a big test against Swarthmore College on Sept. 13.
