Field Hockey Falls to NJAC Champs
TCNJ, 4-0
UNION, N.J. (10/30/08) - The College of New
Jersey won its third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference field
hockey championship, defeating host Kean University, 4-0, on
Thursday evening.
The fifth-ranked Lions (13-2, 6-0 NJAC) scored twice in the
first eight minutes of the game and added two more first-half goals
to close out the scoring. With the victory, TCNJ wins their
22nd conference championship and earns the conference's
automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
For the Cougars (13-4, 3-1 NJAC), sophomore Ashlie
Berghold (Boyertown, Pa.) made three saves.
The Lions jumped out to the early 1-0 lead when senior Jenny
Lubin (Moorestown, N.J.) took a pass from freshman Alex
Okuniewicz (Toms River, N.J.) for the game-winner just 3:43
into the game.
Sophomore Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) netted the
next two goals off assists from senior Jackie Gelinas
(Flemington, N.J.) at 7:44 and 17:33 to extend the lead to 3-0
midway through the first half.
With just 1.5 seconds remaining in the first half, Okuniewicz
closed out the scoring with the unassisted goal.
The Lions held a 15-4 advantage in shots and a 15-5 edge in
penalty corners.
Kean returns to action on Tuesday, November 4, when they travel
to William Paterson University for an NJAC game at 7 p.m.
