WORCESTER -- Montclair State scored twice in a three-minute span midway through the first half and added a pair of second-half goals as the Red Hawks defeated WPI, 4-0, Saturday afternoon at H.Carr Field at Alumni Stadium.
The Engineers, who opened the season with a scoreless draw against Endicott on Tuesday, fall to 0-1-1 on the season. Montclair State improves to 1-1.
The Red Hawks came out on the front foot, with
Tyler Diaz (Nutley, NJ) sending a right-footed attempt that deflected out for a corner in the seventh minute before
Kevin Contreras (Northvale, NJ) sent a shot that was collected by WPI goalkeeper
Savio Ketnouvong (Worcester, MA) 90 seconds later.
Montclair State broke through in the 22nd minute. Diaz chipped a ball from just past midfield over the top of the WPI back line to
Tomas Monteiro (Jersey City, NJ), who flicked the ball back to
Ivan Garcia (Belleville, NJ). Garcia took an immediate touch before firing a left-footed shot past Ketnouvong to make it 1-0.
The Red Hawks doubled their advantage just 2:48 later. Diaz settled a ball for Garcia near the edge of the box, and Garcia floated a left-footed service into the box for Monteiro, who headed the ball into the top right corner. Diaz and Garcia were credited with assists on the goal.
WPI looked to answer before halftime, with the Engineers putting three of their six first-half shots on frame.
George Kostis Jr. (Edison, NJ) made three saves during the opening 45 minutes to keep the Red Hawks' advantage at two.
Montclair State carried its two-goal advantage into the break and added to it in the 65th minute.
Carlos Bedoya (South Plainfield, NJ) curled a free kick in from the near side of the end line, and
Kyle Moore (Freehold, NJ) redirected the ball past Ketnouvong to make it 3-0.
The Red Hawks added their fourth goal less than nine minutes later.
Logan Neno (Bridgewater, NJ) served a free kick toward the far post, where
Thomas Pugliese (Kenilworth, NJ) headed the ball into the bottom right corner at 72:51.
The Engineers continued to battle, with
Adin Pezo (Everett, MA) putting a shot on frame in the 75th minute before
Jakub Bielecki (Bedford, NH) and
Liam Ireland (Hudson, NH) each recorded a shot later in the half. Kostis stopped Pezo in the 75th minute and Ireland in the 89th minute to preserve the shutout.
WPI finished with 11 shots, putting five on frame.
Michael Montabana (Jamison, PA) led the Engineers with two shots, while Pezo,
Liam Laidlaw (Fayston, VT),
Geronimo Barroso (Houston, TX),
Anir AitDowd (Harvard, MA) and Ireland each recorded a shot on goal. Ketnouvong finished with six saves.
Montclair State held a 16-11 advantage in shots and a 10-5 edge in shots on goal. The Red Hawks also held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks. Kostis, making his collegiate debut, finished with five saves for the shutout.
The Engineers return to action Sunday when they travel to Western New England for a 2pm contest in Springfield. Montclair State returns home Monday to host Brooklyn College at 7pm at MSU Soccer Park.
