Ewing, NJ…The College of New Jersey field hockey team secured the top seed in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament as the Lions handled visiting Rowan University 4-0 on Tuesday.

The win gave the fourth-ranked Lions a perfect 6-0 regular-season record in the conference and assured them of home-field advantage for the tournament that begins on November 2. This marks the first time the NJAC will hold a conference tournament for field hockey. Overall, TCNJ is 16-2 on the season.

The 17th-ranked Profs saw their four-game winning streak snapped as they finished the NJAC slate 4-2 and have also clinched a spot in the tournament.  Rowan is 12-6 overall.

The win was the 15th straight against a conference opponent dating back to the midway point of the 2009 season. This season, the Lions won all six games by shutout and outscored the opposition 24-0.

TCNJ got the only goal of the opening half as Meredith Jeffries (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) maintained possession on a Lion penalty corner. After the ball was sent back inside the arc, Caitlyn Jenkins (Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway) sent a pass to the far post where a waiting Camille Passucci (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) banged it in. That goal was her team-leading 12th of the season and came with 12:27 before the half.

In the second half, the Lions tacked on three more goals with senior Alex Okuniewicz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) scoring on a penalty stroke 6:11 into the new half to start that run. Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) then jumped on a loose ball during a scramble in front of the Rowan making it a three-goal cushion with 18:59 showing on the clock.

Jenkins capped the scoring with an even three minutes remaining scoring on an assist from Erin Waller (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.). That goal was her 11th of the season, setting a new career high.

Senior Shannon Syciarz (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) continued her streak of not allowing a goal as she posted her seventh shutout of the season with six saves. Syciarz has not allowed a goal in her last 360:11 of playing time.

TCNJ rounds out the home portion of the schedule on Thursday, October 27 hosting Manhattanville College at 7:30 p.m., while the Profs head to Christopher Newport University on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. start.