Montclair, N.J. (10/27/07) - Montclair State University sophomores Lara Kaminski (Rahway, N.J.) and Natalia Sisti (Lincoln Park, N.J.) each scored with less than three minutes remaining in the game as the fourth-seeded Red Hawks rallied for three goals in the final 20 minutes to beat No. 5 seed Kean University, 3-2 in the opening round of the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament at Sprague Field on Saturday. Sisti finished with two goals as Montclair (9-8-1) overcame the 2-0 deficit to advance to the semifinals on Tuesday, October 30 where they will face top-seed The College of New Jersey.
Sophomore Kristin Cizek (Manalapan, N.J.) and Shannon Blackburn (Vernon, N.J.) each had a goal for Kean, which fell to 8-9-2 with the loss.
With 2:44 left to play Kaminski was taken down just outside the 18-yard line on the right wing and the Red Hawks were awarded a free kick. Setting up for the kick, Kaminski caught the Cougars off guard lofting the ball inside the near post to tie the game at 2-2. Then with 40 seconds remaining, Montclair pushed the ball down inside the six yardline where Kean goalkeeper Nicole Groszew (Denville, N.J.) and Sisti raced after the loose ball. The two nearly collided and the ball rolled free, however Sisti was able to keep her balance and got enough of the ball to trickle it into the net for the game-winning goal.
Kean grabbed a 1-0 lead 9:49 into the contest as Michelle Fisher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) served a ball through two defenders onto a streaking Cizek, who dribbled in 10 yards against MSU goalie Leah Tepperman (North Andover, N.J.) before knocking in a shot inside the left post for her third of the season. Just under 20 minutes later, Blackburn extended the lead to 2-0 as she spun away from a defender on the left side and moved within 15 yards before she uncorked a shot to the left-middle portion of the net for her second tally of the year.
Groszew made three saves for Kean while Tepperman had two for Montclair State, which outshot the Cougars, 9-7 in the contest. The Red Hawks also had the lone corner kick in the game.
