EWING, N.J. – Make it a baker's dozen.
The TCNJ women's lacrosse team pulled away late in a tight NJAC championship game on Saturday, edging out a game Rowan squad, 11-8, to run its title streak to 13.
Marissa Lucca netted a game-high five goals for the Lions, who led by just one with under eight minutes to play but toughed out a highly competitive clash on a rainy, gray afternoon in Ewing,
FOR THE RECORD
- TCNJ moved to 14-4 and extended its winning streak to six, while Rowan ended its season at 8-11
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The teams traded single goals early, but that was it for the first quarter as the Lions found it difficult to solve Rowan goalie Mel Rodgers, who had six saves in the opening frame and eight in the first half
- The Profs grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the second before Kira Sides tied it with a nice individual move and Morgan Vaccaro gave TCNJ its first lead 79 seconds later with a scoop-and-score following a save by Rodgers on a shot from Ally Tobler
- Rowan nosed back in front, 4-3, with two goals 57 seconds apart, but Natalie Berry found a cutting Marissa Lucca in front of the crease for an easy finish and then shook a defender to free herself for a shot and a goal to put TCNJ on top, 5-4, with 1:53 remaining in the first half
- Julia Charest made two huge saves, including one on a free-position shot, on an extended Rowan possession to start the second half, but the Profs pulled even on a free-position conversion by Elaina Corson
- Vaccaro inched the Lions back in front, 6-5, with a free-position strike at the 5:41 mark of the third, before Molly Green tied it once more less than 90 seconds later
- Lucca came around a screen and took a feed from CJ Kole in stride, ripping a lefty shot top shelf to make it 7-6 TCNJ with 3:47 to go in the third
- The first multi-goal lead for either team came with 43.5 seconds left in the third, as Kole fired home a feed from Vaccaro to extend the Lions' edge to 8-6, but the comfort was short-lived as Fiona Lockhart converted a free-position chance with 20.5 ticks on the clock to bring the Profs within 8-7 heading into the fourth
- TCNJ won the opening draw of the fourth and took immediate advantage as Lucca spun around a defender and deposited her fourth goal of the game just 27 seconds into the stanza
- The Profs got back within one, 9-8, on a woman-up goal with an even 8 minutes to play, but Sides countered with a woman-up marker of her own only 34 seconds later, capitalizing on a wide-open run down the alley
- Lucca made it 11-8 on a sensational goal with 6:01 to go, taking a pass from Berry and scooping a back-handed shot underneath the stick of Rodgers for a critical insurance tally
FOR THE FOES
- Corson and Green scored three goals apiece for Rowan, with Green adding six draw controls
- Rodgers racked up 16 saves
STANDOUT LIONS
- Lucca was the star of the game, netting five goals on eight shots
- Sides had two goals and a
- Vaccaro finished with two goals, an assist, and three draws
- Kaitlyn Birnbohm-Kaminski caused three turnovers, including a crucial interception with Rowan on the woman-up with about three minutes left
- Charest posted eight saves
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- TCNJ logged a 35-24 shot advantage and put 27 of those 35 on cage
- The Lions held a 14-9 edge in draw controls and won all five draws in the fourth quarter
- The Lions committed just 11 turnovers to 16 for Rowan
- Rowan was 6-for-11 on free-position shots to just 1-of-4 for TCNJ
NOTES
- Charest passed Sharon Vittuli (1998-00) for fifth on the all-time saves list (349), and her 46th career victory puts her in a tie for fifth alongside Belinda Warrick (1994-96) and Sandy Stockl (1985-88)
- Lucca scored five goals in both NJAC Tournament games and has at least five points in four of her last five outings
- Madison Wernik moved into a tie for fifth all-time with her 78th career caused turnover
UP NEXT
- TCNJ will learn its NCAA opponent and location when the bracket is revealed during a selection show on NCAA.com at 10:30 AM on Monday
