TCNJ field hockey meets Rowan with NJAC title on the line
Being in the New Jersey Athletic Conference field hockey championship game is nothing new for The College of New Jersey.
Over the years, the Lions have been the dominant program in the conference, but since 2017 TCNJ has claimed only one championship in 2019.
The No. 2 seed Lions (11-7) look to add to the illustrious list of 26 conference championships on noon Saturday when they face top-seeded and two time defending champion Rowan (10-7) in Glassboro.
TCNJ advanced with a 3-1 win over No. 3 Kean and Rowan blanked No. 4 Stockton, 6-0.
At stake is an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, another venue the Lions are very familiar with as the they have won nine national championships under Hall of Fame coach Sharon Pfluger.
When TCNJ and Rowan squared off in the regular season, the Lions scored a pair of fourth-period goals to grab a 3-2 win and ending a three-game losing skid to the Profs.
Both teams are nationally ranked in the NFHCA poll with the Lions at No. 22 and Rowan No. 17. The highest ranked NJAC team is Kean at No. 13.
After a 3-3 start to the season, TCNJ put together a six-game winning streak and were 9-3, but heading to the NJAC playoffs it had dropped four of five.
The NJAC semifinal win over Kean has the Lions back playing the brand of hockey they are capable of. They have been led by junior Rayhanah Ahmed with 11 goals and 11 assists, junior Carly Cole chimes in with eight goals and seven assists.
Sophomore defender Emily Dvorsky has four defensive saves on the season and sophomore Brigitte Racey has a 1.70 goals against average.
Rowan has been led by Burlington Township’s Vanessa DiDonato with a conference best 17 goals and former Northern Burlington standout Aida Ingram is in the goal and has a 2.22 goals against.
This has been a very hotly contested rivalry in the last few years as six of the last 10 games have been decided by one goal.
The final in 2022 was a 1-0 affair with Rowan’s defense making the slim margin hold up. The Lions will be looking to reverse the trend this season.
TCNJ Players Earns All-NJAC Honors
Junior Rayhanah Ahmed was named the NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, junior Claire Engebreth was the Co-Midfielder of the Year and freshman Taylor Wielechowski was the Rookie of the Year.
Ahmed is a three-time All-NJAC selection and she has totaled 32 points on 11 goals and 10 assists in the regular season to rank third in the conference in overall points.
Engebreth started all 17 games for the Lions and was a force on both ends of the field. She was TCNJ’s second-leading scorer, only behind Ahmed, with 16 points on five goals and six assists. Wielechowski helped anchor the defense.
Bella DiNardo, who played at Hopewell Valley, was named to the second team from TCNJ as was Emily Dvorsky.
Local players from Burlington Twp, Vanessa DiDonato (Rowan) and Kirsten Bailey (Stockton) were named to the first team.—
Exciting Showdown for NJAC Field Hockey Championship
