Montclair, NJ (10/15/11) – The Montclair State women’s soccer team scored the final three goals as the Red Hawks picked up an important New Jersey Athletic Conference win downing New Jersey City University, 3-1 at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday afternoon.

Kaila Fasano (Westwood, NJ / Westwood), Amanda Pero (Old Bridge, NJ / Old Bridge) and Francesca Gibson (Cape May, NJ / Lower Cape May Regional) each scored goals as Montclair won for the fifth time in its last six outings, improving to 9-4-1 overall, 5-2-0 in the NJAC.

The victory helped Montclair creep closer toward earning one of the top three seeds in the NJAC Tournament, which would include at least a home contest when the tournament begins on Saturday, October 29. Montclair has 15 points, six ahead of NJCU and Richard Stockton for the time being. The Red Hawks have one conference game left against Ramapo at home on October 26.  

Senior forward Jennifer Albuja (Union City, NJ / Hoboken) had a goal for the Gothic Knights, who fell to 12-4 overall, 3-2 in the NJAC. NJCU will face Rowan University on Monday, October 18 in a makeup contest in Jersey City beginning at 3:30 pm.

The Red Hawks contained the Gothic Knights’ high-scoring tandem of Albuja and Julia Caseres (Union, NJ / Union) for the most part as they limited the duo to just six shots total in the contest. They had averaged nearly 11 per game through the first 14 contests.

Despite that effort, NJCU still managed to take the early lead as Albuja netted her 19th goal of the season at 16:35 of the contest. Off a corner kick, Amanda Spethmann (Wood-Ridge, NJ / Hasbrouck Heights-Wood-Ridge) made a crossing pass to Albuja, who headed the feed into the net for a 1-0 Gothic Knight advantage. It would be one of three shots NJCU managed in the first half.

Meanwhile, Montclair posted 11 in the first 45 minutes but couldn’t get one past goalkeeper Brittany Hoffman (McMurray, PA / Peters Township), who had seven saves in the first half.

In the 38th minute, Montclair was able to put a number on the scoreboard as Jessica Kiniery (Branchburg, NJ / Somerville) fired a shot that Hoffman made the save on. The ball bounced right out to Fasano, who banged in the rebound for her fourth of the year knotting the game at 1-1.

That’s the way the game remained through halftime and into the second half when Montclair took the lead for good. Pero notched her second goal of the season 3:58 into the period as she beat Hoffman with a low shot.
Gibson then gave the Red Hawks an insurance marker at 66:38, looping a shot from 27 yards on the left side that beat
Hoffman for her 10th of the year. Danielle Deserio (Somerville, NJ / Somerville) picked up the assist.

Hoffman finished with 11 saves for NJCU while freshman Gina Policastro (East Brunswick, NJ / East Brunswick) made two for Montclair State.

Montclair State outshot the Gothic Knights 20-8 in the game and held a slim 5-4 margin in corner kicks.

The Red Hawks return to action on Monday, October 17 with a home non-conference contest against SUNY Old Westbury at 3:00 pm.