Box Score MONTCLAIR, NJ – Midfielder Brittany Bollendorf hit the back of the net with 41 seconds remaining, giving the Profs a 12-11 victory over Montclair State University in the semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Wednesday night.
 
The Profs (10-6), seeded third, head to top seed The College of New Jersey (15-3) for the NJAC championship game on Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. This is the second consecutive season that Rowan defeated the Red Hawks (10-6) on the road in the semifinals. TCNJ advanced to finals by winning over fourth seeded Kean (7-10), 14-4 on Wednesday night. The winner of the title game earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
 
Montclair State had tied the game at 11 with 4:36 on the clock after a goal by midfielder Jenna Bussiere (sr. Dayton, NJ/South Brunswick). The Red Hawks controlled the ensuing draw, but turned the ball over. After a successful clear by the Profs, Bollendorf (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) was able to score and give Rowan the victory. Bussiere did have the final shot of the game, but it rang off the post at the 59:42 mark.
 
Rowan goalie Erin Horner (fr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) made seven saves. Montclair State goalie Alexandra Tepper (jr. Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) stopped eight shots.
 
Bollendorf scored five goals, controlled five draws and caused three turnovers. Midfielder Jamie Blondina (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River S.) produced two goals and one assist. Attack Rachel Emerson (jr. Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) tallied two goals. Attack Vicky Sucharski (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) had one goal and one assist. Attack Rachel Hofbauer (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and midfielder Ali Herbert (so. Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Reg.) each added one goal.
 
Bussiere registered four goals and one assist for Montclair State. Midfielders Kasey Maguire (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and Francesca Verrone (so. Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) along with attack Aviana Paraggio (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) scored two goals apiece. Attack Tierney Conlon (sr. Caldwell, NJ/Caldwell) chipped in with one goal and two assists.
 
Montclair State took a 2-0 lead after goals by Bussiere (4:11) and Verrone (10:07). Rowan then registered six straight for a 6-2 advantage with 7:51 to play. Bollendorf and Blondina each had two goals and Herbert and Hofbauer tallied on apiece. The Red Hawks responded with three consecutive goals as Maguire (23:41), Paraggio (24:47) and Maguire (25:35) cut the deficit to one (6-5). Bollendorf scored with 10 seconds on the clock to give the Profs a 7-5 halftime lead.
 
Bussiere hit the back of the net twice to start the second half and tie the score at seven with 27:09 remaining. Sucharski gave Rowan an 8-7 lead (34:15) then Paraggio knotted the score at eight (34:36). The Profs went back out in front 10-8 after tallies by Bollendorf (35:49) and Emerson (38:46). Conlon (46:10) and Emerson (52:33) traded goals and the score was 11-9. Verrone (54:20) and Bussiere (55:24) recorded back-to-back tallies and the game was tied at 11.