Montclair State Rallies Past Kean, 3-2
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.
