MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The TCNJ men's soccer team played even with 8^th-ranked Montclair State for much of the first half on Saturday night, but a red card early in the second half preceded an insurance goal for the hosts and left the Lions with little chance of a rally in an eventual 3-1 NJAC setback.
 
J.J. Zaun scored the lone goal for the Lions (1-7-4, 1-1-1), who suffered their first conference loss.
 
Montclair State (8-2-1, 3-0) was on the front foot early and took a quick lead after Colin Rentner went low to stop an initial shot but was left helpless on the follow-up.
 
TCNJ got it back in the 16^th minute, when Zaun settled a touch from Chris Meder in the box and spun around to lace a left-footed shot of the fingertips of the diving MSU goalie and into the top right corner of the net.
 
The Red Hawks regained the lead in the 34^th minute and went a man-up on a TCNJ red card in the 54^th. Montclair State padded its advantage with a goal in the 74^th minute.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Montclair State outshot the Lions, 22-6, and had eight corners to TCNJ's one
• Chris Fontanazza paced the Red Hawks with seven shots and scored the team's third goal
• Zaun, Meder, Matias Hornos, and Jack Smyth all had on-target shots for TCNJ
• Rentner finished with six saves

NOTES

• Zaun scored his first goal of the season and second of his career

UP NEXT

• The Lions wrap up non-conference play with a home match against Muhlenberg on Wednesday night