MONTCLAIR, NJ – Top-seeded and fifth-ranked Montclair State rallied in the second half to defeat second-seeded Rowan, 4-2, in the NJAC Championship game this evening, as the Profs were denied their chance to repeat as conference champions.
 
Emiliano Pavia scored both goals for Rowan (9-4-5), one in each half.
 
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Montclair State (17-2-1) scored three consecutive goals in the second half to take a 3-1 lead. Pavia got one back for Rowan in the 75th minute, but Montclair State's Amer Lukovic scored his second to ice the win.
 
Rowan jumped out in the first half. Turlough Gartlan headed a ball from the midfield to Pavia, who turned around and fired a shot from the top of the box into the net on the left side in the 28th minute. It was the second goal of the year for the sophomore as the Profs carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.
 
The Red Hawks didn't waste any time tying it up in the second half as Enir Radonicic tied it in the 50th minute. The home team went ahead when Lukovic scored one minute later. Karsen Reed tallied a goal in the 60th minute to give MSU a 3-1 lead.
 
Pavia scored his second of the game, and third of the season, with an unassisted goal in the 70th minute, to pull the Profs within, 3-2.
 
Lukovic then secured the win in the 87th minute to give the Red Hawks the title.
 
The high-level match was even as both teams had an equal number of shots (11) and shots on goal (7). Charlie Scanlon was called on to make three saves in goal for Rowan.
 
This was the fourth straight appearance in the NJAC Championship game for the Profs. Rowan will now await the announcement of the NCAA Championship bracket on Monday at 2:00 p.m. on NCAA.com for a possible at-large berth.