Box Score

Ewing, NJ… Senior Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) scored three times to propel The College of New Jersey field hockey team past visiting Kean University 5-1 on Wednesday in the New Jersey Athletic Conference semifinals.

The fourth-ranked Lions (19-2) will host the conference championship against sixth-ranked Montclair State University (18-1) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 5 in Lions' Stadium. This marks the first time the NJAC has sponsored a post-season tournament in field hockey. The winner of that title game will also garner the NJAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Tournament. The Red Hawks advanced with a 4-3 overtime win over Rowan University.

The win by the Lions extended their winning streak to a season-long nine games and the 19 wins are the most the program has had since the 1999 season when the team went a perfect 20-0.

TCNJ opened the scoring as they cashed in on a penalty corner when Camille Passucci (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) inserted the ball and then headed to the far post where she knocked in a pass from Erin Waller (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.). That goal came 7:37 into the game.

The Cougars had a great chance to pull even as they were awarded a penalty stroke after a Lion infraction with 16:13 left in the half. Kelly Bachovchin (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) took the stroke for Kean, but the shot was wide of the near post.

Kean came close again as Olivia Triano (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) took a shot that worked its way to the back of the cage, only to have the officials wave it off indicating the shot originated from outside of the arc.

The Lions doubled up their lead with 4:02 left in the half as Mitchell scored her fourth of the season with an assist from Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic). That goal was the 50th career goal for Mitchell.

That same combination bumped the margin to 3-0 minutes into the second half, while Stephanie Soares (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) put Kean on the board with a hard shot from just inside the top of the arc. That goal cut the deficit to 3-1.

Two familiar names tacked on the final two goals of the game for TCNJ as Notos scored unassisted and then Mitchell completed her hat trick with an assist from Erin Healy (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan).

Senior goalie Shannon Syciarz (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) made seven saves for the Lions as she picked up her 19th win of the season.

In goal for the Cougars, sophomore Erin Langan (Millburn, NJ/Millburn) finished with four saves.