MONTCLAIR, N.J. (April 10, 2021) – Facing the top-seeded team in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the fifth-seeded Rutgers University-Camden men gave Montclair State University a huge scare here Saturday in the NJAC semifinals.
 
The Red Hawks, however, scored a pair of second half goals to break a 1-1 tie and went on to end the Rutgers-Camden season, 3-1. Montclair State, 5-0, will host the NJAC championship game Wednesday against third-seeded Ramapo College, a 2-1 semifinal winner over #2 seed William Paterson University on Saturday.
 
Rutgers-Camden ends its brief pandemic-altered season with a 2-4-1 record.
 
Montclair State scored only 10:32 into the game on a tally by junior back Daniel Rodriguez, assisted by freshman Osbin Mendez.
 
Considering the Red Hawks hadn't allowed a goal all season in their first four games, including a 2-0 shutout over Rutgers-Camden on March 31, that tally appeared big until the Scarlet Raptors spoiled the Red Hawks' four-game shutout string. Junior midfielder Kaito Kitazawa notched the tying goal at 27:50, assisted by junior midfielder Parker Solowey. It was the second goal of the season for Kitazawa and the second assist for Solowey.
 
The game remained deadlocked until sophomore forward Janbi Kaghado collected a pair of late assists. His first came at 65:48 on the tie-breaking goal by senior back Stefan Koroman. The Red Hawks tacked on an insurance tally at 83:42 when Kaghado assisted freshman Gene Carlo Altamirano.
 
Montclair State held a 12-9 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Raptor sophomore goalie Juan Bahena made four saves, while junior keeper Shane Keenan had three for Montclair State.