MONTCLAIR, N.J. — Montclair State kept pushing, but the goal never came.
Instead, Rutgers-Camden found the finish that ended the Red Hawks’ season. Gianna Simon scored at 96:18 to give the Scarlet Raptors a 1-0 overtime win Saturday at MSU Soccer Park.
The NJAC quarterfinal loss left Montclair with a 12-4-2 record. Rutgers-Camden advances to face TCNJ in the semifinals.
The Red Hawks finished ahead in shots, 10-6, and corners, 9-1. Still, they put just two attempts on goal. Rutgers-Camden stayed firm defensively, then took advantage of its only overtime shot.
Montclair started looking for an early lead through Shannon Mullins. She took two shots during the opening seven minutes. Both were blocked by the Scarlet Raptors’ back line.
Rutgers-Camden gradually worked its way forward and created chances. Its first shot sailed over the crossbar in the 15th minute. Six minutes later, Mackenzie Sibello made her first save for Montclair.
Both teams struggled to find space as the half continued. Mullins recorded the only shot over the next 15-plus minutes.
Montclair created two more attempts following a corner near the 40th minute. Neither found the net, and Sibello added another late save. The teams reached halftime with the game still scoreless.
The Red Hawks found their best stretch of chances after the break.
In the 58th minute, Kaylee Lauber worked toward the end line. She fired a right-footed shot toward the near post. Rutgers-Camden goalkeeper Giselle Lizardi stopped it, keeping Montclair off the board.
Less than a minute later, Lauber nearly broke through again.
Sophia Orellana sent a ball over Rutgers-Camden’s back line. Lauber slipped past the last defender as Lizardi came forward. She tried poking the ball over the goalkeeper with her right foot. Lizardi got enough of it to send it out for a corner.
The two chances gave Montclair an opening, but Rutgers-Camden held on.
Neither team recorded another shot for the next 20 minutes. Both defenses closed down space and kept the game level.
Montclair threatened again in the 79th minute following a corner. Mullins found a chance directly in front of the goal. Her close-range attempt went just high, leaving the Red Hawks searching.
The final minutes brought more chances, but still no breakthrough.
Carly Guzzardo sent a shot toward the left post in the 84th minute. Shortly afterward, Sibello made her third save to keep Rutgers-Camden scoreless.
Montclair had one final opportunity with fewer than 10 seconds remaining. A header following a corner went just wide of the left post.
After 90 minutes, neither side had found the finish it needed.
Rutgers-Camden changed that just over six minutes into overtime.
The Scarlet Raptors won possession in their own half and quickly moved forward. Talia Thomasson delivered a pass to Simon inside the box. Simon finished with her right foot, scoring her third goal of the season.
Montclair had spent much of the afternoon creating chances. One Rutgers-Camden attack ultimately decided the game.
Mullins finished with a team-high four shots for the Red Hawks. Lauber added three, including both of Montclair’s attempts on goal. Guzzardo recorded two shots, while Kira Henderson added one.
Sibello finished with three saves across 96 minutes and 18 seconds. Lizardi made two stops and earned the shutout for Rutgers-Camden.
For Montclair, the loss ended a season that included 12 wins. It also marked the final game for the Red Hawks’ senior class.
Head coach Pat Naughter reflected afterward on what the group meant to him.
“It’s always devastating when a season ends but I am so appreciative of the efforts of this group,” Naughter said.
He added that he would miss coaching this team, especially its seniors.
Rutgers-Camden now turns its attention to TCNJ, with a place in the NJAC championship game at stake.
