MONTCLAIR, NJ – Natalie Surma netted the only goal of the contest with 10:46 left in the fourth quarter, and host Montclair State knocked off the nationally 12th-ranked Cortland field hockey team by a 1-0 score on Friday afternoon. Montclair State is now 1-0, while Cortland moves to 0-1 after the season opener for both sides.  

Sadie Hoffmann (Miller Place) led Cortland with three shot attempts, while Lillian Morse (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) had two shots on goal. Emma Morgan (Whitney Point) made two saves in goal for the Red Dragons. 
 
Surma's goal came on her third shot of the game, while Darby Von provided the assist. Sydney White stopped all five shots on goal to record the shutout for the Red Hawks. 
 
Montclair State held Cortland without a shot attempt through the opening period of play, but the Cortland defense was able to keep the Red Hawks to just two shot attempts, with neither on target. A shot by Surma sailed just wide of the left post in the final seconds of the frame on the best opportunity of the quarter for Montclair State. 
 
Morgan made a strong blocker save in the opening minutes of the second quarter, and the Red Dragons began to control play over the following minutes. During the period, Cortland had nine penalty corners, and fired four shots on goal in the final five minutes of the half that White was able to turn aside to keep the game scoreless into halftime. 
 
Each side had one shot on goal in the third quarter, which the goalkeepers were able to save to bring the game into the final period at 0-0.
 
Just over four minutes into the fourth quarter, Von dribbled down the right sideline and crossed the ball towards the middle of the field. The ball bounced up to Surma, who was able to flick a shot past an onrushing Morgan to give Montclair State the lead. 
 
Cortland was able to win three penalty corners over the final minutes, but couldn't muster any shots on goal to find an equalizer and suffered a season-opening defeat for the first time since 2014.