UNION, N.J. (10/22/16) – The No. 16 Kean University field hockey team came within inches of arguably the greatest victory in program history in a 3-2 overtime loss to No. 7 The College of New Jersey on Senior Day Saturday. The Cougars hit a post and the crossbar in the final minutes of regulation against the Lions.
Click here to see highlights from today's game
The loss drops the Cougars to 14-2 on the year and 3-2 in the NJAC. New Jersey is 12-3 overall and 6-0 in the league.
On the rainy, cold and blustery day, TCNJ struck quickly and netted the game's first goal off a corner at 9:42. Lexi Smith took the insert pass at the top of the circle and slid the ball left to Jackie Schwartz, who one-timed it into the cage for the score.
Eight minutes later, the Cougars counter-punched on a similar play. Krista LaMaina inserted the ball on a corner to Teresa Carr on the left side. Carr slid a pass to senior Jordan Colna – Kean's only player celebrating Senior Day - who unleased a wicked shot along the turf that whistled past the Lion goalkeeper to tie the game.
By the halftime break, Kean had outshot TCNJ 6-5 and taken six corners to the Lions' three.
TCNJ started the second period with another early goal off a corner. Elizabeth Morrison got her own rebound and put it in to give the Lions the lead once again.
Kean's Jenna Patrone hit the crossbar in a bid to tie the game with 15 minutes to go.
With seven minutes remaining in regulation, Kean engineered a dangerous attack off a penalty corner. Shauna LaMaina had a shot blocked down in front, where freshman Rachel Mills (pictured left) was able to scoop it and lift the ball into the cage for just her second collegiate goal that tied the game at two.
With Kean riding the momentum, Carr hit the far post with 2:30 left in the game that would have given the Cougars a stranglehold on the game. Instead, the game went to overtime. There were also defensive saves by Kayla Molnar, Shannon Cowles and Lexi Smith during regulation that helped to keep the game knotted up.
Molnar had a good shot for Kean early in the extra period, but TCNJ's Smith was able to clear it off the goal line for a defensive save.
With one minute remaining in the first overtime, Schwartz sent a long pass for Morrison behind the Cougar defense. Morrison was able to get her shot to go for the game-winner and clinch the NJAC regular season title for the Lions.
Kean outshot TCNJ 19-17 and earned 17 corners while allowing just seven. Erin Smith made five saves, while Christina Fabiano came up with four in the win for the Lions.
Kean will hit the road for its final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday night with a visit to Marywood University at 7 p.m.
