Ewing, NJ … A pair of late goals propelled The College of New Jersey field hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Rowan University on Tuesday night at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.
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The victory pushed the Lions season record to 7-3 and 2-0 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. The critical road win sets up an exciting match-up with Montclair State University this Saturday in Lions Stadium at 1 p.m.
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With less than six minutes remaining, TCNJ trailed 2-1 before senior
Lexi Smith (Florence, NJ/Florence) converted a penalty stroke to tie the game. Classmate
Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, Pa/Great Valley) delivered the game-winner with 3:31 to play off a feed from
Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington) to cap off the come-from-behind NJAC triumph.
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Play was scoreless midway through the first period. The Lions forced Prof goaltender
Carly DeMarco to make three saves, which was a sign of things to come later in the contest. But at the 22:23 mark, freshman
Cayla Andrews (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) got free on the left side. She carried in and fired a shot past DeMarco to give TCNJ a 1-0 lead. It was the fifth goal of the season for Andrews.
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Just under three minutes later, Rowan forward
Jacqui Rosati got the equalizer when she picked up a loose ball. TCNJ goalie
Christina Fabiano (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) made the initial save on a shot by
Abbie Tucker, but Rosati knocked in the rebound for her eighth goal of the year.
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TCNJ dominated the second half as DeMarco turned back seven shots on goal to keep the game even. With under 10 minutes left in regulation, Rowan gained possession and entered the Lions offensive third before being awarded a penalty corner.
Skylar Pino found the stick of
Rachel Galante, who found the back of the cage with 8:15 remaining to give the host a 2-1 advantage.
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Less than two minutes later, Smith rifled home a penalty corner to knot the score at 2-2. Douglas then scored her 10
th goal of the season to send the Lions home winners.
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Fabiano finished with two saves in the game and DeMarco stopped 11 shots.
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The Lions will square off against the Red Hawks (8-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Lions Stadium.
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