Box Score Box Score

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – A goal by Montclair State University's Dan Mendoza in the 54th minute propelled the 25th-ranked Red Hawks (1-0-0) to a 1-0 victory over the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team (0-1-0) on Friday afternoon at MSU Soccer Park in non-conference action. It served as the 2011 season opener for both programs.

Senior defender Brendan Ujvary (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) put the game's first shot on goal at 6:23, but Montclair State goalkeeper Anthony Rogic turned it away to prevent the Hawks from reaching the board first. Both goalkeepers saw little action in the first half, as Ujvary's attempt was the lone shot on goal in the period.

The floodgates opened, though, in the second half, as the Red Hawks took two shots before Mendoza netted an unassisted goal off of a free kick. From that point forward, sophomore goalkeeper Conor Power (White Plains, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) was forced to make five stops. Despite gaining five corner-kick opportunities in the second stanza, the Hawks were unable to cash in, and Montclair State hung on for the win.

The Red Hawks outshot the Hawks, 21-15, on the afternoon, and both sides took five corner kicks. Power sustained the loss in a five-save effort, while Rogic posted the shutout win, turning aside three shots.

New Paltz faces its second nationally-ranked opponent in three days on Sunday, Sept. 4, as the Hawks travel to Hoboken, N.J., to square off with the No. 13 Stevens Institute of Technology at 1 p.m.