Babson Park, M.A. … The College of New Jersey field hockey team suffered a 1-0 overtime loss to Franklin and Marshall College in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

At the 2:28 mark of the first overtime period, Diplomat Sydney Cole slipped in the game-winner to advance F&M to the regional championships match. They will face Babson College, who defeated St. John Fisher, 3-1 earlier in the day.

The sudden end to the season was a tough one for the Lions, who finished the year with an impressive 16-4 overall mark. They entered the contest ranked fifth nationally.

It was a defensive standoff in the opening period. A total of three shots were taken with the first coming off the stick of Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT, Stonington) over 18 minutes into the game. The Diplomats had their first scoring chance in the 28th minute with a shot off of a penalty corner, but senior Shannon Cowles (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) made a defensive save to keep the score knotted up at zero.

The second half was much like the first, both teams kept up defensive pressure and didn't allow any goals in regulation. TCNJ was able to generate some more open looks, holding a 4-2 shot advantage in the second period. Lexi Smith (Florence, NJ/Florence) drilled the post off a shot in the 41st minute, an F&M goalkeeper lliana Santangelo was up to the task each time she was tested, stopping three more shots.

In the overtime period, senior Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) delivered a shot in the first minute that Santangelo saved. Cole then ended the game with her eighth goal of the season.

Prior to the tournament, TCNJ defeated Montclair State, 1-0 to secure its third straight and 24th New Jersey Athletic Conference championship in program history.