MEN'S SOCCER DROPS SEASON-OPENER TO No. 6 MONTCLAIR STATE, 4-0

Springfield, MA – Sophomore Ryan Morris (Freehold, NJ, Freehold Township) scored twice in his Montclair State debut as the sixth-ranked men's soccer team raced past Emmanuel College, 4-0 in the Soccer City Shootout at Western New England College on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Pablo Zegarra (Moorestown, NJ, Moorestown) and freshman Mike Olla (Bloomfield, NJ, St. Benedict's Prep) each had a goal for the Red Hawks (1-0), who advance to the championship game of the tournament on Sunday at 2:30 pm against host Western New England.

Morris, a transfer from West Virginia University, got the Red Hawks on the board at the 11:51 mark with the first of his two tallies as junior Maxx Wurzburger (Glen Rock, NJ, Glen Rock) picked up the assist.  MSU would maintain that lead for the next 22 minutes until Zegarra collected his first goal of the year finishing off a pass from freshman John Moraes (Newark, NJ, St. Benedict's Prep).

The Red Hawks, who outshot Emmanuel 18-2 in the first half kept the offensive pressure going into the second half and extended the lead at the 59:29 mark when sophomore Lucas Terci (Union, NJ, Union) set up Olla for the latter's first collegiate goal.

Morris completed the scoring with 2:07 remaining with an unassisted tally.

The four goals were more than enough for junior goalkeeper Frank Buchel (Voorhees, NJ, Eastern Regional), who made his first career start. Buchel stopped two shots before giving way to freshman Michael Gonzalez (Kenilworth, NJ, Union Catholic) for the final 7:39 of the contest. EC junior netminder Garrett Charette (West Springfield, Mass.) made eight saves in his season debut.

The Saints will face off against against Westfield State University at 12:00 pm in the consolation game. Westfield fell to Western New England, 5-0, in the other match up today.

*Release provided courtesy of Montclair State Sports Information