Box Score

Glassboro, NJ… The College of New Jersey claimed its fourth New Jersey Athletic Conference title in the last five years as the Lions beat host Rowan University 2-1 on Friday in Glassboro scoring the game-winning goal in the final 10 minutes.

Both teams entered the game unbeaten in conference play, but TCNJ netted pair of unanswered goals in the second half to not only win the game, but the NJAC Championship as well. With that win, the ninth-ranked Lions also secured the conference's automatic berth into the 2010 NCAA Division III Tournament. TCNJ finished the conference slate with a perfect 6-0, while finishing the regular season at 16-4.

The selection show for the 2010 NCAA Division III Tournament will air on ncaasports.com on Monday at 9 a.m.

The teams battled through a scoreless opening half before the Profs grabbed a 1-0 an even 10 minutes into the second.

TCNJ didn't waste any time getting that goal back as sophomore Jillian Nealon (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) scored a mere 14 seconds later with an assist from junior Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic).

Nealon also deposited the game winner as she scored her second of the game with 7:19 remaining in regulation with the play originating in TCNJ's defensive end of the field. Sophomore Christy Wham (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) gained possession of the ball and advanced to it to junior Alex Okuniewicz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South). Okuniewicz continued the play with a pass to Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and the Lion junior sent a cross to the front of the Rowan net where Nealon finished the play with what turned out to be the championship clinching goal.

Lion goalie Shannon Syciarz (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) finished with a pair of saves as she picked up her 16th win of the season, which ties a career best.

The loss ended Rowan's regular season at 13-6 overall and 5-1 in conference play as the Profs hope to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.