On Wednesday, October 29, at MSU Soccer Park, the Montclair State women’s soccer team clinched its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) regular season championship since 2022 with a 2-0 win over the Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors in their final regular season game of 2025.
No. 13 Rowan and MSU were tied with 23 conference points atop the NJAC women’s soccer standings when each team finished their regular season Wednesday, but Montclair State finished ahead of Rowan because they had a better goal differential in all conference games (20 to 18). Montclair State also finished undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 2013 (excluding the shortened COVID season of 2020) and will be the top seed in the upcoming NJAC postseason tournament.
Rutgers-Camden had possession for the first five minutes and got the game’s first shot on goal, a right-footed strike from Ava Stowell that bounced into the grasp of MSU’s sophomore goalkeeper and Montclair native Salange Bell.
Then, in the fifth minute, a through ball from Cedar Grove native Samira Lukovic to MSU’s leading scorer, Kylie Prendergast gave Prendergast space about 25 yards from goal. The senior from Livingston then unleashed left-footed strike that sailed over the goalkeeper, Giselle Lizardi and into the back of the net, putting Montclair State ahead 1-0.
Despite getting out to an early lead, the hosts kept pushing. In the 15th minute, MSU midfielder Carly Guzzardo found herself in space down the right wing. She then sent a centering pass back to the edge of the 18, where it found Lukovic, who one-timed Guzzardo’s pass off the cross bar. The ball fell down for Montclair State midfielder Shannon Mullins who volleyed the ball out of bounds.
Right before the 20-minute mark, the visitors got their best scoring chance of the game when senior Maresa Savarese one-timed a pass from Stowell with the side of her foot. The shot was saved by Bell with the tips of her fingers and then went off the cross bar.
Through the first half, it was a close game but MSU clearly had the edge, having eight shot attempts to Rutgers-Camden’s three and five shots on goal to RC’s two.
The Red Hawks picked up where they left off in the second half. Ten minutes inside the second frame, a RC player gave away the ball near midfield while none of her teammates were backing her up. Prendergast took possession and sent a long ball over the top for Isabell Kronow, who beat a RC defender to the ball. As soon as Kronow got to the ball, however, she was met with a reckless tackle by RC defender Meghan Gorman.
Initially, the referee gave a foul but went to discuss the play with the linesman. After discussing it, the referee showed Gorman a straight red card.
This reduced the visitors to 10 women and gave head coach Pat Naughter’s Red Hawks a free kick 22 yards away from goal. Shannon Mullins took it and would strike the ball cleanly but straight at Lizardi.
Thirteen minutes later, a cross came into MSU forward Gianna Curci who flicked it on into the 18-yard box for Lukovic. The Montclair State sophomore collected the ball and slotted it into the bottom left corner of the net to give Montclair State a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute.
That’s how the game would end, as the Red Hawks stayed on the gas pedal looking for a third goal but in the end were unable to get another past Lizardi who finished the night with 10 saves. On the other hand, Bell made two saves for Montclair State and secured her ninth clean sheet of the season for the Red Hawks with the help of a strong defensive performance from the team as a whole.
When the final whistle sounded, Montclair State’s bench emptied onto the field and the players celebrated winning the title by running towards their fans with the NJAC regular season championship banner.
This was the fifth NJAC regular season title for Montclair State’s head coach Patrick Naughter who has been with the program since 2010.
Head Coach Pat Naughter
On what was going through his mind when the final whistle sounded.
I didn’t allow myself to worry about other results. Camden’s too good of a team so I knew focus had to be solely on this and some of these guys got word that things were breaking our way…this is an unbelievable conference. The proximity of all the schools, New Jersey kids, you know our kids have former teammates playing at other schools and just the competitiveness is unreal so I’m on cloud nine. This group’s been amazing. I can’t believe we won the NJAC and I can’t believe we had an undefeated regular season. It’s like insane, it’s insane.
On breaking down Rutgers-Camden’s defense.
Their defensive organization is excellent. They shutout Swarthmore (College) who’s top 15 in the country right now. They don’t give up two goals-a-game. So, we knew we were going to have to move the ball quick, get in behind, and listen, you can have all the strategies you want but Kylie Prendergast on the ball and Shannon Mullins on the ball helps. They deserve the credit, we spun it around pretty good and I thought kids stuck with the gameplan really well.
On the team earning its ninth clean sheet.
(Assistant Coach) Erin Sullivan does a great job coaching them. She did a great job recruiting these kids and most nights, tonight we’re starting three freshmen (on our backline) and then Aria Hicks who’s a transfer in her second year here and I think Aria’s been a great steadying presence. Emily Schuler plays that hybrid, six/ center-back role better than I ever could’ve imagined and Salange is next level… When it all breaks down, Salange can still make a save and she’s saved us several times. I though defensively, our forwards worked really hard, our midfield was super organized and that back group was great and they did really well.
On his message to the team.
My message to them, I didn’t wanna do it tonight because they deserve to just think about what we accomplished. It’s hard to play in this conference. It’s harder to try to end careers so whoever we get in that semifinal, their careers are going to be on the line. Our careers are going to be on the line. The intensity in the NJAC regular season is a nine out of 10, 10 out of 10, this is going to be a 13 out of 10. I’ll be interested to see how our young kids do with it, but I’m done doubting these guys. I’m done questioning these guys. They’ve proven to me they’re the champs.
Forward Samira Lukovic
On her reflections of the season.
We’re honestly super proud of all the hard work we put in. We just knew that we had to control the controllables like our coach always tells us and honestly, just work hard and that got us to where we are.
The Red Hawks will have a bye through the quarterfinals of the NJAC postseason tournament. They will host their next game, a semifinal on November 4.
