Box Score
Ewing, NJ…The College of New Jersey field hockey team celebrated its new top ranking by extending its winning streak against New Jersey Athletic Conference opponents to 17 straight as the Lions handled visiting Richard Stockton College 7-0 on Tuesday at Lions' Stadium.
The Lions moved into the top spot in the new National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III poll earlier in the day after previous number one Bowdoin College was upset at home by Trinity (CT) College over the weekend.
The win put the Lions at 5-0 in the NJAC and 12-1 overall, while the Ospreys dropped to 3-11 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
TCNJ took control early as junior Gabby Cafone (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) opened the scoring 9:45 into the game with an unassisted goal punching in her own rebound.
Later in the half, the Lions scored three times in just over two minutes with sophomore Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) getting the first of those and Alex Okuniewicz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) the second. The final goal in that spurt was scored by senior Kendra Boyd (Atlantic Highlands, NJ/Henry Hudson).
Mitchell added her second goal of the half with 5:18 remaining with senior Jackie Gelinas (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) picking up her second helper of the half. That goal sent the Lions into the half holding a 5-0 advantage.
In the second half, Okuniewicz added her second of the game on a penalty stroke 9:08 into the new frame extending TCNJ's lead to 6-0.
The hosts added one more goal in the latter stages of the game as sophomore Kellyn Riley (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) notched her second goal of the season on an assist from freshman Allie Barrington (Jackson, NJ/Jackson).
For the Lions, goalies Shannon Syciarz (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Jackson) and Sammi Brach (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) shared the shutout.
In goal for the Ospreys, sophomore Debi O'Kane (Cologne, NJ/Absegami) finished with 11 saves, while freshman Christine Harvey (Edgewood, MD/Aberdeen) had five.
TCNJ heads back on the road Saturday for a tough contest at fourth-ranked Messiah College for a 1 p.m. start, while the Ospreys head to Stevenson University for a 2 p.m. contest.
