Ewing, NJ... Montclair State University scored late in the second half to pull out a 1-0 win over The College of New Jersey women's soccer team in a battle of nationally-ranked programs on Saturday.
 
The loss dropped the 10^th-ranked Lions to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the 16^th-ranked Red Hawks won their 10^th straight to move to 10-1 and 4-0 in conference action.  
 
The only goal of the game came with 11:40 left in regulation as MSU senior Francesca Gibson (Cape May, NJ/Lower Cape May Regional) touched in a pass from Martina Landeka (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) for the game's only goal.
 
In the first half, Montclair State had the best chance of either team to get on the board with just over 14 minutes left in the period. Gibson cut to the middle of the field and fired a rising shot on the Lion net that keeper Kendra Griffith (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) snared to keep the game scoreless.
 
It didn't take the Lions long to get a quality scoring chance in the second period when sophomore Christine Levering (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) fed a nice pass through the Red Hawk defense to  senior Korrie Harkins (Wenonah, NJ/Gloucester Catholic). Harkins then sent a low shot towards the far corner that Montclair State goalie Gina Policastro (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) kicked out with her left foot.
 
TCNJ had another great chance minutes later with Levering again being the catalyst. She sent a cross from the far side that freshman Elizabeth Thoresen (Colts Neck, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) one-timed on goal that Policastro smothered.
 
Montclair State countered midway through second half on a play that started on a corner kick. Shawna Grabowski (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) had that chance as her header glanced off the far post.
 
Griffith, who tied a season high with five saves, then came up with her best save of the game when Kaila Fasano (Westwood, NJ/Westwood) found a seam and fired a shot on goal that the Lion goalie denied with a sprawling stop.
 
It was shortly thereafter that the Red Hawks broke through with the game's only goal.
 
Policastro earned the shutout with five saves.
 
Both teams have midweek non-conference games coming up as Montclair State takes on Vassar College on Wednesday, October 8 with the Lions hosting Farmingdale State on Thursday, October 9.