EWING, N.J. – For the third year in a row, and 19^th time in program history, The College of New Jersey women's soccer team is New Jersey Athletic Conference Champions. The Lions prevailed, 3-2, in double overtime in an intense 108 minutes over Montclair State University on Friday night. With the victory, the Lions also clinched an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

TCNJ got on the board early in the 12^th minute. Gianna Coppola sent a low pass from the left side into the center that found Julianna Bertolino. Bertolino punched it inside of the right post to make it a 1-0 advantage.

Only eight minutes later, TCNJ added another to make it a 2-0 lead. Bertolino was fouled inside of the box, and that set up a penalty kick from Kelly Carolan. Carolan punched it in to put the Lions ahead by two goals.

The Red Hawks battled back in the second half, and got on the board with a penalty kick of their own in the 64^th minute. Emily Beenders scored to pull Montclair State within 2-1. The Red Hawks kept the pressure on the TCNJ defense after that.

Nicole DiPasquale came up with a big save in the 71^st minute. Chisom Onyewyenyi had an open shot from five yards out by the left post, yet DiPasquale denied it to keep TCNJ out in front.

Montclair State net the equalizer in the 79^th minute. Beenders sent a long pass that was ran down by Tori Rolls. Rolls had a breakaway, and got it past DiPasquale to tie the conference championship up at 2-2.

The Lions had a couple of good opportunities to win it in the first overtime, but Montclair State keeper Lindsay Freewalt made a pair of nice saves. Randi Smith and Taylor Nolan each took shots from in close, yet Freewalt denied them both. The conference championship remained gridlocked at 2-2, and went into the second overtime.

In the 108^th minute, Faith Eichenour sent a cross into the middle of the box that bounced off of a Red Hawk defender. Carolan went sprinting after it, and drew a hard foul that set up a penalty kick. Amelia Curtis punched in the kick to clinch the NJAC Championship and set off a wild celebration.

The conference title marked the 19^th one for TCNJ out of 26 NJAC Championships in conference history. TCNJ will make its 29^th straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The Lions earned an automatic bid with the conference title. The full field and brackets will be revealed on NCAA.com on Nov. 11.

Check back right here on tcnjathletics.com for more information about the NCAA Tournament on Monday afternoon.