Box Score
MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Cullen family, twin brothers Joseph and Michael, accounted for all three goals as third-ranked and top-seeded Montclair State (19-0) is headed back to the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament championship game for a third straight season with a 3-1 semifinal victory against No. 4 seed and 22nd-ranked William Paterson (13-5-2) Nov. 4.
Junior John Esposito had a pair of assists as the Red Hawks moved on to the title game and will face third-seeded Rutgers-Camden for the NJAC crown on Friday, Nov. 7, at Sprague Field beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Sophomore
Steve DeMatteo (Piscataway, N.J./St. Joseph's -Metuchen) scored for William Paterson, which must now wait to see if they receive one of the at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament.
DeMatteo gave William Paterson as 1-0 lead 11:44 into the contest as he collected his fifth goal of the season.
Julian Valerio (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), the league's leading assist man, dropped a free kick to DeMatteo, who banged home a header past goalkeeper Nick Mele for the early Pioneer advantage.
And the Pioneers made that lead hold up the rest of the first half as
Dan Peragallo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) had five saves during the opening period.
In the second half, Montclair would get the equalizing goal at the 59:58 mark. Tyler Masterson, the NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, flipped a pass along the right side to Joe Cullen, who rifled a shot from 20 yards out into the upper-left corner of the goal for his seventh of the year and a 1-1 tie.
Sixty-two seconds later, it was Michael Cullen's turn as he put MSU ahead to stay, registering his seventh of the season off an assist from Esposito. Mele and Peragallo made saves to keep the game at 2-1 before Montclair added an insurance goal with 3:45 to go. This time is was Esposito connecting with Joe Cullen as Montclair State took the two-goal lead.
Peragallo finished with six saves while Mele had one. Montclair State outshot the Pioneers, 17-6, and also held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
