Box Score EWING, NJ  – The College of New Jersey field hockey team had a 3-2 win over Rowan University in the final of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.
 
The Lions (18-1) receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  The tournament bracket will be announced on Sunday evening (Nov. 8) in a press release on NCAA.com.  TCNJ is the defending national champion. 
 
The Profs (14-6) were the second seed  in the NJAC tournament and they defeated the third seed Montclair State University, 2-0 in the semifinals.  In the other semifinal game, the top seed TCNJ had a 3-0 shutout against the fourth seed William Paterson University. 
 
The Lions were ahead 2-0 after the first half.  Forward Taylor Barrett (fr. Neshanic Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) scored the first goal on a breakaway at 20:29.  Forward Elizabeth Morrison (fr. Stonington, CT/Stonington) had the assist.  Morrison produced the second tally on a penalty corner after time had expired.
 
TCNJ led 3-0 after a goal (58:04) by midfielder/forward Jaclyn Douglas (jr. Malvern, PA/Great Valley) and an assist from back Lexi Smith (jr. Florence, NJ/Florence Twp.).  Rowan scored at 58:49 when back Abbie Tucker (so. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Reg.) hit the cage with a pass from back Marisa Marini (sr. Carneys Point, NJ/Padua Academy (DE)) on a penalty corner.  The two players connected again for the Profs' second goal with 2:02 remaining in the game.  
 
Lions' goalie Kelly Schlupp (jr. Holland, PA/Council Rock S.) stopped 10 shots and goalie Christina Fabiano (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) came into the game at 6:10 when Rowan had a penalty stroke that went wide.  Profs' goalie Carly DeMarco (so. Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City) totaled nine saves and Marini had one defensive save.
 
This was the fifth year for the NJAC Field Hockey Championship Tournament.  All five years, the Profs have advanced to the postseason.  Rowan also played in the championship game in 2014 and 2012.