MONTCLAIR, N.J. (November 1, 2022) – During the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season, the Rutgers University-Camden men's soccer team was the only club in the NJAC to plant a blemish on Montclair State University's record, playing to a 0-0 tie on October 22.
 
The Scarlet Raptors nearly did it again here Tuesday in the NJAC semifinals, but MSU sophomore midfielder Amer Lukovic had other ideas. The NJAC First Team star scored his second goal of the game in the 79th minute, snapping a tie score and lifting the nationally-ranked Red Hawks into the conference championship game with a 2-1 win.
 
Top-seeded Montclair State will host third-seeded Rowan University in Friday's NJAC title game. The Profs eliminated second-seeded Ramapo College on a 3-1 penalty kick shootout after the two teams played to a 1-1 tie through 110 minutes.
 
Montclair State, ranked ninth nationally in both the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll, improves to 15-1-4 overall. The Red Hawks rolled through the NJAC regular season with an 8-0-1 conference record. Rutgers-Camden, which went 4-2-3 in NJAC play this season, closes 2022 with an overall 7-8-7 record.
 
Lukovic got the Red Hawks started early, firing a low shot into the goal at 11:03, assisted by sophomore Ian Chesney. By halftime, Montclair State held a 10-1 advantage in shots, although only three of those shots were on goal.
 
Rutgers-Camden tied the game early in the second half on only their second shot of the game. After a foul in the box, the Scarlet Raptors were awarded a penalty kick at 48:44 and senior midfielder Christian McCartney made it count. His second goal of the season tied the score at 1-1.
 
Lukovic spoiled the Scarlet Raptors' upset bid with his second goal of the game at 78:38. He was assisted by Janbi Kaghado and Chris Fontanazza.
 
Montclair State finished with a 20-4 advantage in shots, including 11-3 in shots on goal. McCartney had two of the Scarlet Raptors' three shots on goal, while sophomore midfielder Ethan Dreyer had the other one.
 
Montclair State also held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
Rutgers-Camden sophomore goalie Sean Boen made nine saves, while Montclair State graduate student Shane Keenan finished with two saves.