The College of New Jersey Athletics

GLASSBORO, N.J. - The second-seeded and sixth-ranked TCNJ women's soccer team surely experienced a bit of deja vu when for the second straight season they found themselves going to penalties with Rowan in the NJAC Tournament.
 
But whereas in 2025 it was the Profs besting the Lions to advance to the title game, the 2026 meeting belonged to TCNJ, which converted all four of its attempts from the spot to – unofficially – hand Rowan its first defeat of the season and clinch the program's third NJAC Championship in four seasons.
 
The Lions (14-1-3) came out swinging in the first half, outshooting the Profs (15-0-1) 8-3 in hopes of putting the hosts behind for the first time all season. The best chance of the opening 45 came in the 30th minute when a through ball set Lexi Caruso up with just Rowan's Enya Carthy to beat, but a fully-extended Caruso was unable to generate enough power before the ball rolled to a sprawling Carthy.
 
Rowan would steal some momentum to the tune of two shots on goal in the final 15, but both were handled by Ellen Williams to send the sides into the break level.
 
A formation change flipped the script in a second half that saw the Profs take seven shots to TCNJ's one, but it was Williams answering the call once again with a pair of highlight-reel saves to keep the conference's top-scoring team off the board and send the game to overtime.
 
As was the case during regulation, however, defense reigned supreme, and for the second straight year a postseason match between the Lions and Rowan was headed to penalties.
 
Alyssa Alfano was first to score, with a response from NJAC Player of the Year, Sara Wiedeman tying things at one. Next was Maggie Murphy, who sent her shot coolly past Carthy before the ensuing Profs attempt – taken by Carthy – missed high to give the Lions the edge.
 
Lexi Caruso made it 3-1, with another Rowan miss setting Ava Visaggio up to close the door. And after 110 minutes of play; with the championship on the line, it was the junior rifling her shot past the outstretched hands of Carthy and into the top corner to lock up the Lions' third NJAC Championship in four seasons and earn them the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rowan held narrow advantages in both shots (13-12) and shots on goal (6-5)
• The Profs took eight corners to TCNJ's four.
• Alfano led all players with two shots on goal.

NOTES

• TCNJ has now won three of the last four NJAC Championships.
• While officially being scored as a tie, this was Rowan's first defeat of the season.
• Williams made six saves en route to her 26th career shutout.
• Murphy, Elaina Williams and Isabella Daley played all 110 minutes for the Lions, with the latter two making a number of key interventions on the defensive end.

UP NEXT

• Having earned the NJAC's automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament, TCNJ awaits its opponent to be announced during the NCAA Selection Show Monday, Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m.