By Tiffany Williams –
Montclair State wasted no time proving why it’s one of the region’s top-ranked teams, punching in a goal just 65 seconds into Saturday’s showdown and never letting WPI back in the fight. The Red Hawks, sitting No. 2 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Region IV poll, buried three more in the second half to roll to a 4-0 win at MSU Soccer Park.
The loss was the Engineers’ first of the season, dropping them to 2-1-2, while Montclair stays unbeaten at 4-0-2.
Kenet Lopez lit the fuse early for the hosts, and WPI spent the rest of the half trying to weather the storm, down just 1-0 at the break despite being outshot 10-3. But the dam broke after halftime. Kyle Moore doubled the lead just before the hour, Aiden Cummings made it 3-0 on a feed from Kevin Contreras in the 69th minute, and Danny Tobon slammed the door with an unassisted strike in the 79th.
Senior keeper Floris Huiskers made four saves in his first career start for WPI, but the Engineers couldn’t keep Montclair’s attack under wraps, getting outshot 23-5. Mike Montabana managed two attempts for WPI, with Fabio Bastida-Andreu, Tora Ito, and Matthew Murray each putting one on frame.
Diesel Fiore stopped three shots to keep the clean sheet for Montclair.
WPI heads back to Worcester Tuesday night to host Skidmore in its final non-conference tune-up before opening NEWMAC play at nationally ranked Babson next weekend. Montclair State gets a week to rest before hosting Vassar under the lights next Saturday.