Montclair, N.J. (9/28/16) – The Kean University women's soccer team got on the board first but it wasn't enough to hold Montclair State University who picked up a 3-1 NJAC win.
Shannon Brown put Kean (5-5, 1-2 NJAC) in the lead in the 17th minute as she took a cross from Kayla Birth (pictured left) and popped it over the keeper for a 1-0 advantage. The Cougars had a previous look three minutes prior as Brittany Birth got hold of a ball at the top of the box and lofted a shot over MSU keeper Alyson Burns. But MSU's Ashley Koester was there on the back line heading the ball away.
The Red Hawks (9-1-1, 3-0 NJAC) tied things up as Christine Mayorga blasted a shot up in the box that was blocked. The ball bounced off a defender right to Jennie Hornstra who completed the put-back.
Montclair took the lead for good early in the second half as Emily Beenders scored off a foul at the top left of the box. She fired a ground ball through traffic and into the far right post for the go-ahead score.
Kean nearly got the equalizer in the 50th minute as Brown broke through and went 1-on-1 against Burns, who made a sliding block outside the six yard line to keep the Red Hawks in front.
Montclair added to the lead four minutes later as Mayorga and Ryelle Sansone played give-and-go along the right side with Mayorga finishing the play for the goal and a 3-1 MSU lead with 38:06 to play.
Burns made that lead hold up as she made five of her six second-half stops. She finished with seven saves while Kean's Lauren Healey had three.
Kean outshot MSU 15-10 with Montclair getting eight of the 10 corner kicks.
The Cougars return home on Saturday for homecoming festivities when they host Rowan University.
