Montclair, NJ – Sophomore DAN BELLEZZA scored four goals, added an assist and was named the Most Valuable Player as top-seeded Montclair State captured its ninth consecutive Skyline Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship with an 11-7 over No. 2 seed Stockton on Saturday.

Seniors JAMES CLARKE and BRADY WULSTER each netted a pair of goals as the Red Hawks (11-7) claimed the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship. Selections and bracket announcement for the national tournament is scheduled for 9:00 pm on Sunday, May 17 on line at NCAA.com

Wulster gave Montclair State an early 1-0 lead however the Ospreys (16-3) tied the game 22 seconds later on a goal by Zack Aho who then gave Stockton a 2-1 lead scoring just ahead of the quarter horn.

Bellezza began a three-goal run by Montclair that put the Red Hawks back into the lead. The first came unassisted with 11:38 to go in the period and Wulster's tally with 4:58 knotted the game at 3-3. MATT HAEMMERLE scored on a man-up goal with 24 seconds to however Colin Shea answered for the Ospreys with five seconds remaining sending the teams into halftime tied at 4-4.

Bellezza got things going for Montclair State in the third quarter scoring twice in a span of 48 seconds. The first came unassisted off the right wing and the second, a man-up goal made the score 6-4 with 10:50 to go. Stockton cut that to a goal 70 seconds later as Aho set up Erik Anderson. Corey countered for MSU as the Red Hawks led 7-5 heading into the final period.

The teams traded goals in the first 10 minutes for Montclair closed out the contest with the final two goals. Clarke got the first with 4:58 to play on a man-advantage and DON FINN connected with a minute remaining for the final margin.

Goalkeeper LUCAS JONES made 12 saves for Montclair State. Defenseman RYAN YOUNG registered a team-best 10 ground balls along with a pair of caused turnovers.

Courtesy Montclair State sports information