Ewing, NJ... Senior Erin Healy (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) scored with 1:42 left in overtime to lift The College of New Jersey field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Rowan University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship game.
 
The win also earned the Lions an automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division III Tournament, marking the 31^st time they qualified for the national tournament. The announcement of the field for this year's NCAA Tournament will be Monday, November 10 at 9 a.m. at www.ncaa.com.
 
Healy scored the deciding goal late in the 15-minute overtime period, deflecting a shot from the top of the circle by classmate Erin Waller (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.). The goal originated when the Lions were awarded a penalty corner.
 
The victory bumped TCNJ's record to 19-1 on the season as its winning streak grew to 11 straight. The Lions also extended their growing home winning streak to 23, dating back to the 2012 season.
 
The loss dropped Rowan to 14-5.
 
The Profs had a chance to spoil TCNJ's streaks early in overtime, but sophomore goalie Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) made a sprawling save on a charge by Rowan's Johanna James (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City) setting up Healy's heroics later on.
 
Both teams scored in the opening period with the Profs getting on the board first 4:02 into the game. Junior Sam Browne (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) knocked in a pass from senior Erika Mecchella (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City). That goal was her second of the season.
 
TCNJ pulled even in the later stages of the half thanks to a goal by sophomore Danielle Andreula (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt),who picked up her seventh of the season. The play started on a penalty corner and Waller sent a nice pass to Andreula at the far post to knot the score.
 
Mecchella played a big part on the defensive half of the field as well in the opening period, making two defensive saves preventing the hosts from going into the break with the lead.
 
Rowan needed only 42 seconds at the start of the second half to regain its edge as Browne set up James for her 14^th goal of the season.
 
The Lions got the equalizer with 14:56 left in regulation when senior Lindsey Hatch (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) redirected a pass from Andreula for her team-leading 29^th goal of the season. 
 
TCNJ's defense held its ground in the final 10 minutes to make sure the game went to overtime, thwarting the Profs on seven penalty corners in a five-minute span.
 
Schlupp earned her 19^th win of the season as she made three saves.


 
In goal for the Profs, freshman Carly DeMarco (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City) stopped six Lion shots.