Cougars Fall to NJAC Champion TCNJ in Field Hockey, 2-1

UNION, N.J. (10/24/06) - The College of New Jersey sophomore midfielder Melissa Buttray (Lincoln Park, N.J.) netted the game-winner midway through the second half to lift the Lions to a 2-1 victory over host Kean University, as the Lions clinched the New Jersey Athletic Conference field hockey championship on Tuesday evening. The win improved the second-ranked Lions to 14-1 overall, 5-0 in the conference, while the Cougars dropped to 8-6 overall, 1-4 in the NJAC.

Late in the opening half, the Cougars got on the scoreboard first, as sophomore forward Stephanie Cirino (Warminster, Pa.) scored off the saved shot from freshman forward Brittany Gibbs (West Deptford, N.J.) with 1:32 left in the half.

With just 15 seconds remaining in the first period, the Lions tied the game heading into halftime when senior forward Jess Berkowitz (Cranford, N.J.) scored off the tip-in from senior forward Allison Greene (Atco, N.J.).

Buttray tallied the game-winner with 19:30 left in the contest, tipping in a shot from junior defender Sheri Grondski (Hamilton, N.J.) following a penalty corner.

In goal for Kean, freshman Jenni Barry (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) made 14 saves, while TCNJ senior keeper Erin Mitschke (Boonton Township, N.J.) made two stops.

With the conference title, TCNJ earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III field hockey tournament.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, October 28, when they host Elizabethtown College in non-conference play at 6 p.m. TCNJ battles third-ranked Messiah College on Thursday, October 26, in Grantham, Pa.