EWING, N.J. – No. 14 Rowan outlasted the No. 21 TCNJ field hockey team in a shootout on Wednesday, using a pair of goals late in regulation to eventually steal a victory in a wild NJAC rivalry clash.
With first place in the conference standings on the line, the Lions (8-4, 2-1) looked set to deliver just their second win over their archrival in the last eight meetings.
Lindsey Hoffman had given the hosts a 3-1 advantage with 7:08 to play, stuffing home the rebound of an
Isabel Maher shot to put a bow on a period of sustained pressure from a series of corners.
The Lions maintained that advantage until just before the 3-minute mark, when a yellow card seemed to flip the game on its head. The Profs (11-3, 3-0) pulled one back with 3:02 to go and, despite pulling their goalie, managed to net the equalizer with just 57 seconds left.
Two overtime sessions passed with little in the way of chances, though TCNJ was forced to see out the final four minutes and change of the first one with a player on the bench for a yellow card.
Prisha Dhruve had the best opportunity at a golden goal early in the first extra period, but her lifted shot was denied by a remarkable save from Rowan goalie Mariah Juiliano to keep the game tied.
That sent the game to a penalty shootout, where TCNJ was first up.
Jadyn Huff saw her shot ring off the crossbar with Juiliano on the turf, but
Brigitte Racey stoped Tess Herman's attempt to keep things level.
Julia Neff staked the Lions to a 1-0 lead by sending a low shot underneath a diving Jiuliano, but Rowan hit the back of the cage on each of its next two attempts. Racey kept the Lions alive with a stop in the fourth round, but TCNJ's fifth and final effort went begging.
Mackenzie Hart netted the opening goal midway through the first quarter, depositing a cross from Hoffman into the back of the cage. Huff started the transition play with a steal near midfield and sprung Hoffman down the right side of the field.
Rowan pulled even early in the second quarter, but
Kara Wilson redirected Huff's effort from the top of the circle past Juiliano for a 2-1 lead with 3:24 left in the half.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Rowan outshot the Lions, 20-13, and held a 15-7 edge in penalty corners
- Five players led the Profs with three shots apiece
- Huff paced TCNJ with three shots, with Dhruve, Hart, and Wilson chipping in two each
- Racey finished with eight saves and Juiliano had seven; the Lions' netminder also saved a penalty stroke to preserve TCNJ's 2-1 lead
NOTES
- Wilson matched Huff for the team lead with her ninth goal of the season
- Huff handed out her ninth career assist
- Hoffman notched her first game with both a goal and an assist
UP NEXT
- The Lions continue NJAC play at Montclair State on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
