Sport Shorts

Here's how the Red Hawks fared this fall. For a schedule of upcoming athletic events, call 973-746-6258, or check the Web at www.montclair.edu/athletics.shtml.

Football
The Red Hawks posted a 9-2 record, which included a 9-0 start, the best ever by a Montclair State squad, surpassing the 8-0 mark of the 1964 team. Montclair reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Playoffs for the third consecutive year and was ranked in the top 10 throughout most of the season. Quarterback Ed Collins capped off a brilliant career throwing for a school record 32 touchdowns and 3,307 yards while finishing his career as the all-time leader in pass completions (640) and yards (8,408), and tossing 63 touchdowns. Collins was one of 17 players named to the All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) team. Linebacker Omar Lucas was chosen as the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Field Hockey
The field hockey team claimed the 2001 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Mid-Atlantic Championship with a 1-0 victory over top-seeded host Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Sophomore Lea Smith scored the game's only goal in the 31st minute off an assist from senior Andrea Ulicny, while sophomore goalkeeper Trisha Winkle made eight saves against the Cardinals to earn tournament MVP honors, including a final stop on a Catholic penalty corner with just seconds remaining in regulation. It was Montclair State's first ECAC title since 1990. The second-seeded Red Hawks advanced to the title game for the second straight season with a 2-1 overtime win over Drew University. Senior Laura Popes notched the game-winning goal, extending her single-season school record with her 19th goal of the campaign. Montclair State finished with a best-ever 15-4 overall record this fall.

Volleyball
The volleyball team closed its season with a 3-1 loss to visiting New Jersey City University. Junior hitter Stacey Johnson led Montclair with 22 kills, while freshman setter/hitter Tiffany Aciz and sophomore setter Carmen Alvarado each posted 19 assists. Aciz led a freshman Red Hawk lineup with 186 kills in 81 games played while also posting a team-best 41 service aces. Johnson led Montclair with 2.50 kills per game, while Jennifer Olan posted 364 assists as MSU's primary setter, with Aciz finishing second on the squad with 194 assists. Junior Melissa Strauss led MSU with 230 digs, and Alvarado paced the Red Hawks with 45 total blocks, including 21 solo.

Women's Tennis
The women's tennis team closed its 2001 fall season with a 7-2 victory over Georgian Court. Montclair State won all six singles matches as it concluded the season at 10-2, tying the single-season win mark set in 1995 and duplicated in 1996. Maria Cunningham, Jen Sirrico and head coach Brian McLaughlin were honored by the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) as the league named its All-Conference team. Cunningham was chosen as a singles player and then earned a spot on the doubles team with Sirrico. The pair posted a 10-2 mark, including a 4-0 mark against NJAC opponents. McLaughlin was tabbed as NJAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Red Hawks to a school-record 10 victories for the third time in his tenure.

Women's Soccer
The women's soccer team ended the 2001 season with a 2-0 loss to top-seeded host New York University in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro NY/NJ Championship Game at Riverbank State Park in New York City. Montclair State defeated NYU by a 1-0 count in the 2000 ECAC title game on campus. The Red Hawks advanced to this year's ECAC championship game with a 1-0 double-overtime win over visiting Richard Stockton College, on an unassisted sudden-death goal by freshman Stephanie Sabaliauskas. Junior goalkeeper Stephanie Romanko earned all 13 wins for the Red Hawks this season while posting 12 shutouts to extend her school record to 26 career shutouts. Junior Shannon Hart led in scoring with seven goals and five assists for 19 points in 21 games.

Men's Soccer
The men's soccer team completed its 2001 season with a 4-3 victory over the University of Scranton (Pa.). The Red Hawks ended the season 7-10-2 overall, including a 6-2-1 mark at home and a 5-4-0 non-conference ledger. Freshman midfielder Matt Caswell completed his rookie season as Montclair's top scorer with 14 points, while senior Woodly Lapointe finished as top goal-scorer this fall with six tallies. Senior goalkeeper Alex Luna finished his collegiate career with a school-record 22 career shutouts and earned All-NJAC accolades along with sophomore defender Ryan Guterl and junior defender Sean Pasieka.

Men's and Women's Cross Country
The men's and women's cross country teams closed their season at the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships in Trenton. The women's team placed fifth, led by junior Tierra Hicks, who placed 18th in a time of 21:12. Kim Regina finished 23rd (21:30), while Karina Zyla (22:13) was 30th. On the men's side, Tom Baldwin earned All-Conference honors as he placed 10th in the field. Baldwin covered the five-mile course in a time of 26:58. He placed fourth among 123 competitors one week earlier at the Collegiate Track Conference 2001 Cross Country Championships, finishing in a time of 27:39.74. Both the men's and women's teams finished fourth at the NJAIAWs/MSU Invitational at Garrett Mountain Reservation.

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