MASTERSON BOOTS RED HAWKS PAST
PSU-ALTOONA IN SEASON OPENER, 1-0

Baltimore, MD (8/30/08) – Senior forward Tyler Masterson (Long Valley, NJ / West Morris Central) scored the game's lone goal with 31:05 left in the second half as No. 7 Montclair State opened up its 2008 season with a 1-0 victory over Penn State-Altoona in the Citrano Medical Labs Kick-off Classic held at Johns Hopkins University on Saturday.

The victory sends MSU into championship game on Sunday as they will face Buffalo State at 3:30 pm.

The Red Hawks outshot Altoona, 10-0 in the first half but could not find the back of the net against goalkeeper Chris Bolea, who made three stops in the first 45 minutes.

Scoreless the game stood until the 59th minute when Masterson, who led the NJAC in game-winning tallies last season, took a long pass from sophomore Mike Krol (Howell, NJ / Howell) and made a move past Bolea before tapping in what turned out to be the only score of the contest.

Senior All-America goalkeeper Nick Mele (Delran, NJ / Delran) made that lead held up as he the Red Hawks defense limited Altoona to just four total shots. Mele made one save as he collected his 22nd career shutout, leaving him all alone atop the all-time MSU list. Mele entered the season tied with Alex Luna and Chris Owen for the mark.