#1 Montclair State - 10, #4 Farmingdale State - 5
Montclair, N.J. - In the Skyline Conference Men's Lacrosse Semifinals, #4 Farmingdale State traveled to top-seeded Montclair State this evening and fell, 10-5. The Red Hawks will now host the Skyline Finals and the Rams were eliminated from the playoffs.
Tied 1-1 after the first quarter, FSC (12-6) senior midfielder Stephen White (Copiague, N.Y.) tallied an unassisted goal with 12:38 left in the second to put the Rams ahead by one. Only 3:33 later, Farmingdale State took a two-goal edge on an unassisted score from sophomore midfielder James Ragland (Seaford, N.Y.). Montclair State (10-7) responded with back-to-back goals by Matt Haemmerle (Hillsdale, N.J.) and Rob Skeels (Roseland, N.J.) to even the score at 3-3. The Red Hawks added the final goal with 23 seconds remaining in the half to take a 4-3 lead into the break.
Less than two minutes into the third, FSC tied the game at 4-4 on a goal from senior midfielder Mike Curry (Melville, N.Y.). Over the final 12:13 of the quarter, Montclair State outscored the Rams 4-0 to open up an 8-4 advantage.
In the fourth, MSU senior attack Don Finn (Wall, N.J.) and sophomore midfielder Dan Bellezza (Plainsboro, N.J.) recorded man-up goals to increase the lead to 10-4 with 7:38 left on the clock.
FSC senior attack Tyler Rifice (Bohemia, N.Y.) added the final goal of the game with 1:16 remaining as the Rams fell, 10-5.
Five different players scored a goal for Farmingdale State and senior goalkeeper Brendan Schade (Holbrook, N.Y.) recorded 10 saves.
For Montclair State, Bellezza and senior attack Brady Wulster (Wyckoff, N.J.) each had a team-high three points on two goals and one assist. Senior midfielder Blase Mantineo (Flemington, N.J.) was 14-of-18 on face-offs in the victory.
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