MSU's Men’s Soccer Set For NCAA Final Four

The Montclair High School Mounties, which are 11-0, are headed to the State Championship on Saturday, December 3, when they go up against the North Bergen Bruins at the MetLife Stadium.

But they aren't the only ones poised to play a big game this week.

On Friday, December 2, the Montclair State University men’s soccer team is set to play the biggest game in the 53-year history of the program when it faces Ohio Wesleyan University in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.

The Red Hawks (19-3-3) and the Battling Bishops (21-2) square off at 6:30 p.m. (EST), with the winner advancing to the national championship game on Saturday, December 3, at 6:30 p.m. (EST) against Calvin or Oneonta State.  Both games can be viewed live at ncaa.com/sports/soccer-men/d3.

The Red Hawks, who boast six consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, and 15 overall, secured their place in the NCAA Final Four on November 20, slipping past Stevens Institute of Technology 1-0 in the Sectional Tournament Final at Amherst College.

While this is the first Final Four for MSU’s men’s soccer team, it is also a first for head coach Todd Tumelty, who will take Montclair State to the national finals in his first season leading the team.

Tumelty, a native of Freehold, played for the Red Hawks for four years before serving as assistant coach for three seasons for the men’s team and one season for the women’s team. In April of this year, Tumelty became the 13th head coach in the history of Montclair State’s men’s soccer team.

In contrast, Tumelty will not only face an Ohio Wesleyan team that is making its ninth Final Four appearance, but one of the legendary coaches in NCAA men’s soccer history. Jay Martin, in his 35th season, is on the verge of making history as the winningest active coach in men's college soccer, with 606 career victories. Victories in the semifinal and national championship games would make Martin the all-time wins leader in college men's soccer.

The Red Hawk team includes sophomore Dan Mendoza (Hackensack, NJ/ Hackensack) and senior Kevin Zalewski (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany), who have combined for 27 goals this season, including 11 game-winning tallies. Senior Sean Pauls (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) has scored six goals and added five assists. Senior Kevin Brown (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) leads the stingy Montclair defense, however, he may best be known for his game-winning goal against Stevens that put Montclair into the Final Four.

All four players were named to the All-NJAC Team along with junior Will O’Connor (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo), senior Anthony Rogic (Boonton, NJ/Morris Catholic), and freshman Brian Cullen (Clementon, NJ/Highland Regional).