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| Jess McQuillen |
Boxscore
Fourth-seeded Richard Stockton (13-5-4) scored four goals in 21 minutes to erase an early 2-0 deficit and upset #21 Rowan(13-4), the top seed for the NJAC tournament, 4-3. With the victory, the Ospreys advanced to the NJAC championship game at College of New Jersey.
Jess McQuillen (Tabernacle/Seneca) carried Stockton to victory with three goals and an assist while Rachel Carlson (Mullica Twp./Oakcrest) scored the other goal for the Ospreys. Stockton goalkeeper Sarah Hinkle (Mullica Hill/Paul VI) made six saves to help the Ospreys extend their unbeaten streak to nine matches (7-0-2).
Nina Fragoso and Erika Suhl struck for two quick goals in the first 14:07 to put Stockton into an early 2-0 hole. McQuillen ignited Stockton’s comeback by scoring on a free kick with only 23 seconds left in the first half to pull the Ospreys within one at the break.
McQuillen tied the game at 2-2 with a shot that bounced in off the left post with 9:35 gone in the second half. The Ospreys took the lead for good as a feed from McQuillen sent Carlson in a on a breakaway and she netted the go-ahead goal at 62:13.
Just 2:46 later, McQuillen corralled a loose ball and sent a low shot into the net to complete a hat trick with her third goal of the game. Rowan answered less than two minutes after that as Evynn Wright pulled the Profs within 4-3 on a shot that Hinkle deflected with her foot but could not control before it crossed the goal line.
The Ospreys protected their one-goal lead for the last 23 minutes to clinch the 4-3 upset and move on to the NJAC championship game for the fourth time in five years. Stockton will be seeking to win its first NJAC title in school history.
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