EWING, N.J. – For the second straight season, the No. 22 TCNJ field hockey team secured a spot for the conference championship game following a dominant 3-1 win over No. 13 Kean on Wednesday afternoon.

Led by a pair of assists from junior Carly Cole, the Lions (11-7) offense struck first early before piling on a pair of insurance scores in the second to break away from the Cougars (11-5). Defensively, TCNJ goalie Brigitte Racey recorded a career-high 11 saves to anchor a near shutout team performance.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lions struck first in the ninth minute on a connection between Cole and freshman Isabel Maher, who tapped the junior's pass around her defender and past a diving effort from Kean's Jenna Flemings to find the back left side of the cage. The goal highlighted an aggressive first period in which TCNJ outshot the Cougars 9-to-4, while doubling up penalty corner chances 6-to-3.
• After a quiet second quarter from both sides, junior Bella DiNardo jumpstarted the second half for the blue and gold with the quick insurance goal just 3:27 minutes in. DiNardo was the recipient of Cole's second assist off a direct feed on a penalty corner.
• In the 52nd minute during the fourth, star junior Rayhanah Ahmed effectively sealed the game for TCNJ on an excellent fast break pass where she found a wide open Mackenzie Hart sprinting along the right side for an advantageous one-on-one shot opportunity against Fleming.  
• Looking to avoid a shutout, the Cougars would put up nine shots off six penalty corners in the final eight minutes of the match before finally capitalizing in the 59th minute.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Racey's 11 saves marks the first double digit mark of her career.
• Freshman Taylor Wielechowski continued her stellar rookie season by recording her second collegiate defensive save.
• Though she didn't score, junior Claire Engebreth finished the game with all five shots being on goal.
• DiNardo finished with five shots, two of which were on goal.

NOTES

• The victory marks TCNJ's third against a ranked opponent this season.
• The Lions finished with 12 of 18 shots being on goal
• Kean finished with three defensive saves, while the Lions recorded one.

UP NEXT
The Lions advance onto the NJAC Championship game on Saturday to face No. 17 Rowan in Glassboro for a rematch of last season's title game. The start time is scheduled for noon.