Box Score

Salisbury, MD (11/12/11) – The Montclair State field hockey team saw its outstanding 2011 season come to a close as the Red Hawks fell to second-ranked Salisbury University, 4-2 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship at Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday.

Michelle Hagel (Fairfield, NJ / West Essex) and Jennifer Tafro (Little Falls, NJ / Passaic Valley) each had a goal as Montclair finished its season at 19-3, establishing a new single-season mark for victories. The Red Hawks were also making their third appearance in the NCAAs, each time reaching the second round.

The Sea Gulls (18-1) would get on the board first, just four minutes into the game scoring off a penalty corner. Junior Kristina Fusco collected the ball in front of the pads and sent it into the back of the goal, her 12th goal of the season.

Montclair State would even the score at the 21:22 mark as Brittany Carroll (Kingston, NY / Rondout Valley) crossed the ball from the right side to the left post where Hagel tapped the ball in for the 1-1 tie.

The two teams continued to battle for possession but Salisbury was able to earn a penalty corner in the last minute of the first half that resulted in a Fusco goal, giving the Sea Gulls a 2-1 advantage going into the second half.

In the second half each team recorded two penalty corners while Salisbury had a slim advantage in shots, 7-5.

Montclair would once again even the score 10 minutes into the second half off the stick of Tafro, tying the game at 2-2.
Less than two minutes later senior Caitlin Walker would put the game-winning goal in the back of the net as she ripped a shot from the far edge of the circle, her 10th goal of the season.

Salisbury would add to its lead with 15 minutes remaining in the game as Fusco converted a penalty stroke, her third goal of the game.

Senior goalkeeper Anna Cooke made two saves in the match and earned her 18th win of the season. MSU junior goalkeeper Megan Bosland (Boonton, NJ / Boonton) had five saves for the Red Hawks.