Glassboro, NJ… Rowan University's Kellie Campbell recorded a hat trick and the Profs used a key defensive play in the final minute to hold off The College of New Jersey field hockey team 4-3 on Saturday in a semifinal game in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
Campbell's third goal of the game was the only goal scored in the second half as she netted that game winner 13:26 into the final half. That goal gave the hosts a 4-3 and came on a penalty stroke.
 
The Lions fought for that equalizer until the final horn as they were awarded a penalty corner in the final minute. Sophomore Victoria Martin (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) took the initial shot that was blocked by a Prof and freshman Jordan Calderone (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) then got a shot off on the rebound, but Rowan's Kelsey O'Neill made the defensive save to secure the win.
 
The loss dropped the 10^th-ranked Lions to 15-5 on the season and they will now await the announcement of the field for the 2012 NCAA Division III Tournament Field, which will be announced on Sunday.
 
The win puts the 16^th-ranked Profs (15-5) into the NJAC Championship at third-ranked Montclair State University, which defeated William Paterson University 6-1 in the other semifinal.
 
Both offenses were clicking in the opening half with the Profs getting the early edge. Rowan scored 2:15 and 5:45 into the game for a 2-0 lead, marking the second straight game the Lions were faced with a two-goal deficit.
 
Like the game against SUNY Cortland in the season finale, TCNJ overcame a two-goal deficit and started the comeback when the Profs allowed an own goal with 11:30 expired. That goal cut the margin in half to 2-1.
 
The Lions tied the game at 2-2 with 6:29 left in the opening half with senior Camille Passucci (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) getting her sixth of the season unassisted.
 
The scoreboard continued changing in the final minutes with the Profs reclaiming their advantage as Campbell scored with 4:12 left. That lead lasted less than two minutes as the Lions once again tied the score, this time on a goal by Calderone. That goal, her third of the season, came just 2:05 before the half.