Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey got a goal from
Tori Tiefenthaler (Freehold, NJ/Biotechnology/Freehold Borough) with just over five minutes remaining to push the fourth-ranked Lions past Rowan University in the Semi-finals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament. The Lions improve to 14-3 on the season, while the Profs fall to 13-6.
The Profs got on the board first just over seven minutes into the game. Rachel Galante beat the Lions goalie with an initial shot on the corner, but
Kayla Peterson (Cream Ridge, NJ/Allentown) made a defensive save before Galante was able to punch home the rebound.
The Lions would answer in the 19
th minute. Tiefenthaler deflected a shot from
Sidney Padilla (Suffern, NY/Suffern) into the back of the cage to knot the score.
The Profs immediately responded, scoring less than three minutes later. Julie Johnson dribbled to the top of the arc and delivered a blast that deflected off the outstretched goalie leg to put Rowan up 2-1 going into the half.
The Lions would again get the equalizer early in the second half. A defensive miscommunication allowed Peterson to dribble unimpeded to ten yards in front of the goal before delivering her eighth goal of the season.
Following a third Rowan goal,
Elizabeth Morrison took advantage of a foul just outside the arc, she took a couple touches to get the goalie to commit before shipping a cross that found the stick of
Caroline Quinn (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands). Quinn tied the game for a third time setting up Tiefenthaler's heroics.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game Padilla played a long entry pass from 45 yards out. Tiefenthaler deftly deflected the pass from ten yards out for her second of the game and what would become her fourth game-winning goal of the season.
TCNJ out-shot Rowan 21-14.
TCNJ will travel to Kean University Saturday night for the NJAC Championship game. Play will begin at 5:00 PM. The Lions have participated in every NJAC Championship game since the tournament first took place in 2011.
