EWING, NJ — The College of New Jersey claimed its 15th straight and 16th overall NJAC Women's Lacrosse Championship Saturday afternoon, defeating Rowan University 10-7 at TCNJ Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex to add another title to its storied conference legacy.
 
With the win, the Lions claimed the NJAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Profs – ranked No. 15 in the NCAA Power Index as of May 1 – looks for an at-large bid.
 
The Lions (16-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter on goals from CJ Kole and Marissa Lucca, but Trish Gillen pulled Rowan within one with just over a minute remaining in the first. The Profs (14-4) came out firing to start the second quarter, with Elaina Corson and Fiona Lockhart scoring in quick succession to flip the lead to 3-2. Alexis Lowry then converted a free position shot to push the advantage to 4-2 before Kole answered with a goal of her own to make it 4-3 at the half.
 
TCNJ opened the third quarter with back-to-back goals from Kelly Nevins and Lucca to retake the lead, and the Lions never looked back. Corson briefly knotted the score at 5-5, but TCNJ responded with back-to-back goals from Evie Campbell, both assisted by Lucca, to push the lead to 7-5. Rowan’s Madison Rothwein cut it to 7-6 on a free position shot, but Nevins added another goal to make it 8-6 heading into the fourth.
 
Kole and Lucca extended the advantage to 10-6 in the final quarter before Lowry's late goal made the final 10-7.
 
Kole and Lucca finished with three goals and two assists apiece to lead TCNJ. Wexler made four saves in net to earn the victory. For Rowan, Lowry and Corson each scored twice to lead the Profs. Rowan won the draw control battle 11-8.
 
TCNJ outshot Rowan 20-17 on the afternoon, with a 14-5 edge in shots on goal proving decisive.