EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey lacrosse team followed what is becoming a typical script, falling behind early to Rowan University 4-2 before storming back for a 17-12 victory Saturday afternoon in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship game. The win is the ninth straight NJAC Championship for the Lions and sixth straight since the conference tournament was instituted in 2014.
 
Alexandria Fitzpatrick opened the scoring for the 16^th-ranked Lions (13-5), finding the net just 20 seconds into the game. Her goal was the 60^th of the season for the Junior, the first to top the mark for the Lions since 2015.
 
The Profs (11-7) answered with three straight goals, including back-to-back tallies by Maddie Bray to take the early lead. Trailing 4-2, Allie Gorman sparked a three-goal rally that put TCNJ back on top. Gorman scored three goal in the game.
 
Tied 5-5, TCNJ took control of the game. The Lions scored five straight goals to go into the break up 10-5. Erin Harvey opened the scoring in the second half to extend the rally to six straight. From that point forward, neither team would string together more than a pair of goals in a row.
 
Fitzpatrick and Kathleen Jaeger each scored four goals to pace TCNJ in the victory. Jaeger added a pair of assists as well. Olivia Cleale scored a pair of goals and added four assists in the victory. Fitzpatrick and Harvey were influential in keeping possession for the Lions nabbing 10 and six draw controls respectively to help the Lions build a 20-11 advantage on the circle.
 
"We never get our heads down," said Fitzpatrick. "We always keep faith in our teammates. That's all we can ask for is to rely on each other."
 
Miranda Chrone made 11 saves, with eight in the first half, to earn the win for the Lions.
 
"We did a good job adjusting to what they were trying to do against us," said Chrone. "Once we got the momentum back on our side, we were able to take control of the game."
 
TCNJ has clinched an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Lions will find out their opponent in tomorrow night's NCAA Tournament selection show at 9:30 p.m.