By Christine Houghton
Sports Editor
The College’s field hockey team started its playoff run with a pair of wins in the first two rounds, one against Stockton University and the other against Rowan University. The victories crowned the Lions as New Jersey Athletic Conference champions and sent them deeper into the postseason.
The matchup against Stockton on Nov. 6 ended in an easy 4-0 win, which sent the team to the final round of play. Starting off scoring late in the first quarter, senior forward Cayla Andrews knocked in a goal off an assist by senior forward Tori Hannah.
About halfway through the second quarter, freshman midfielder/defender Jess Hatch fired home a penalty shot, which sent the Lions into halftime with a 2-0 lead. The teams were held in a standstill to start the second half, but the College found its stride again in the fourth quarter.
Andrews scored yet another goal, this time off the stick of senior midfielder Jillian Farley. Senior forward/midfielder Kayla Peterson made a pass shortly after to Andrews yet again for her 30th of the season, moving her into a tied sport for fourth place in program history for goals scored.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, the team hosted Rowan for the NJAC Championship match, where the Lions pulled away victorious 3-1. The win sends the Lions to the NCAA Tournament for Division III teams, as they remain undefeated.
During the opening quarter, Andrews was back at it again with a strong offensive presence, putting the Lions up 1-0 early on. Late in the following quarter, junior midfielder Samantha Reed sent a pass upfield to Peterson for her first goal of the game.
The team went into halftime up by two points, and scoring was a standstill during the third quarter. Junior forward Tori Tiefenthaler broke the silence in the fourth quarter with a goal off a rebound for the third score of the game.
Senior goalkeeper Madie Beaumont, who posted the shutout against Stockton, held a strong defense in the win against Rowan, as she allowed just one goal.
The team is set to host either Franklin and Marshall University or Hartwick College on Saturday, Nov. 16, an opponent to be determined by a game today.
