Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey field hockey team built a three-goal lead and then held off a late rally by visiting Rowan University for a 3-2 victory to claim the 2015 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday.
 
The title was the second straight for the Lions with both of those crowns coming by identical 3-2 scores over the Profs. Not only did TCNJ (18-1) win the title, they also earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division III Tournament. The field for the tournament will be announced on Sunday at www.ncaa.com.
 
The Lions scored twice in the first half and opened up a three-goal lead in the second. The Profs then scored twice in the final 11:11 of the game to close to within a goal, but TCNJ held its ground to protect the lead.
 
In the first half, Rowan (14-6) had the best quality chance to score when they were awarded a penalty stroke 6:10 into the game. The Profs were unable to grab that early lead as Rachel Galante (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Collingswood) misfired on her attempt.
 
TCNJ senior Mikayla Cimilluca (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) had a flurry of chances for the Lions as she quickly put four shots on goal from close range, but Rowan goalie Carly DeMarco (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City) answered each scoring bid with a save.
 
Three minutes after those chances the hosts did break through for that first goal with 14:31 left in the half when a pair of freshmen teamed up for the goal. Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington) set a crossing pass in transition to a breaking Taylor Barrett (Neshanic Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central), who slide a shot past DeMarco for a 1-0 lead.
 
Morrison then made it 2-0 with no time left in the half as she popped in a rebound on a play that originated on a penalty corner.
 
The Lions made it 3-0 with 11:50 left in the game as junior Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) scored on an assist from junior Lexi Smith (Florence, NJ/Florence Twp.). That goal made Douglas the second player this season to record her 100^th career point as she now has 101 in less than three full seasons.
 
The Profs came right back with a goal 45 seconds later as Abbie Tucker (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) scored on a penalty corner off of an insert by Marisa Marini (Carneys Point, NJ/Padua Academy).
 
That tandem struck again with 2:04 left in regulation, but Rowan was never able to get the equalizer.
 
Lion goalie Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) picked up the win between the pipes as she finished with 10 saves.
 
In goal for the Profs, DeMarco had nine saves.