Box Score

Montclair, NJ (9/2/11) – Sophomore midfielder Dan Mendoza (Hackensack, NJ / Hackensack) scored off a free kick in the 54th minute which turned out to be the lone goal of the game as Montclair State made new head coach Todd Tumelty a winner in his coaching debut as the 25th-ranked Red Hawks blanked New Paltz, 1-0 at MSU Soccer Park on Friday.

Junior goalkeeper Anthony Rogic (Boonton, NJ / Morris Catholic) stopped three shots for his ninth career shutout as the Red Hawks won their initial game of the year for the 13th time since 1996, going 13-0-3 over that span. Montclair’s last season-opening loss came in 1995 when it fell to Elmira, 2-0.

Sophomore keeper Conor Power (White Plains, NY / Archbishop Stepanic) had five saves for the Hawks (0-1).

Montclair opened the game with several scoring chances, including one 2:42 into the contest however Mendoza’s header off a corner kick went high over the crossbar. Later in the period, Kevin Brown (Wayne, NJ / Wayne Valley) got another chance for the Red Hawks, but his headed ball clanked off the cross bar as the game remained scoreless.

Two minutes after Brown’s opportunity went by the wayside it was New Paltz’ chance to put the first goal on the board. Senior midfielder Joe Emberger (Poughkeepsie, NY / Roy C. Ketchum) fired a shot from the left side that just slid over the crossbar on the right side. Despite the near misses by each team, the game remained scoreless through the first 45 minutes.

In the second half, it was MSU putting the first score on the board. A foul just outside the box game Montclair a free kick from 19 yards out and the Red Hawks would capitalize on the opportunity as Mendoza curled a ball around the defensive wall into the right corner of the goal for his ninth career marker as Montclair State led 1-0 at the 53:19 mark.

Rogic came up with a diving save on Shanshe Khosroshvili (Brooklyn, NY / Edward R. Murrow) six minutes after the goal and Power made a save and got some help with another crossbar as Montclair State held its one goal lead with just under 27 minutes to play.

Michael Santalesa (New Hyde Park, NY / St. Francis Prep) got perhaps the best scoring chance for New Paltz in the 67th minute as he rifled a shot from the top of the box. However Rogic was able to tip the ball over the crossbar allowing MSU to maintain its lead.

Montclair State held a 21-15 advantage in shots, including a 14-11 margin in the second half as both teams picked up the offensive pace. Each team had five corner kicks.

The Red Hawks return to action on Sunday, September 4 when they host New York University at MSU Soccer Park beginning at 2:00 pm.