CORTLAND, N.Y. – Junior Gina Campese (East Syracuse/East Syracuse-Minoa) scored the game-winning goal with 6:17 remaining as nationally fourth-ranked Cortland edged third-ranked The College of New Jersey, 9-8, in a battle of 2011 NCAA Div. III tournament semifinalists. The Red Dragons improved to 3-1, including two wins over top-10 teams, while the visiting Lions suffered their first defeat and are now 5-1.

Senior Lindsay Abbott (South Onondaga/Onondaga Central) led Cortland with two goals and four assists and Campese finished with two goals. Freshman Marilyn Farrell (Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Manlius) added a goal and an assist. Junior goalie Shauna Hutchinson (Islip Terrace/East Islip) made five saves.

Junior Alex Spark (Harvey Cedars, NJ/Southern Regional) led TCNJ with four goals and sophomore Jen Garavente (Monroe Township, NJ) tallied twice. Sophomore goalie Kelsey Zinck (Burke, VA/James W. Robinson) turned away nine shots on goal.

TCNJ led 6-4 at halftime, but Cortland knotted the game on goals by Abbott and senior Erin Kollar (East Islip) in the first three minutes of the second half. The Lions re-gained the lead for the final time on a man-up goal by sophomore Lauren Pigott (Jobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) off a free position opportunity with 25:11 remaining.

Farrell's goal off an Abbott assist tied the game with 19:39 left and the Red Dragons took an 8-7 lead when Abbott scored at the 13:29 mark. TCNJ responded just 21 seconds later when Spark raced in unassisted and scored to tie the game at 8-8.

TCNJ had two shots in the final 15 minutes hit the post, including an attempt by senior Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) with 11:02 left that would have given the Lions the lead. Cortland scored the decisive goal when Campese connected off a pass from Farrell with 6:17 left.

The guests won the ensuing draw control but had a shot go high with 4:51 left. Cortland gained possession after a turnover but eventually lost the ball with 2:43 remaining. TCNJ had another potential tying shot go high with 1:49 left, and shortly thereafter Cortland sophomore Jessica Lavelle (Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Manlius) caused a turnover. The Red Dragons were able to clear the ball and successfully run out the rest of the clock.

Cortland will host St. Lawrence University on Tuesday, March 20, at 4 p.m.


GAME SUMMARY:

Cortland 9, TCNJ 8

Team                 1-2    Final
TCNJ (5-1)          6-2        8
Cortland (3-1)      4-5        9

Scoring (Goals-Assists):

TCNJ: Alex Spark 4-0, Jen Garavente 2-0, Lauren Pigott 1-0, Kathleen Notos 1-0, Leigh Mitchell 0-2
Cortland: Lindsay Abbott 2-4, Gina Campese 2-0, Marilyn Farrell 1-1, Natalie Melaniff 1-0, Jordan Miller 1-0, Maria Di Fato 1-0, Erin Kollar 1-0

Goalkeepers:

TCNJ: Kelsey Zinck, 9 saves (9 GA in 60:00)
Cortland: Shauna Hutchinson, 5 saves (8 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 24, TCNJ 18
Ground Balls: Cortland 16, TCNJ 14
Clears: Cortland 12-of-16, TCNJ 12-of-16
Draw Controls: TCNJ 10, Cortland 9
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 12, TCNJ 3
Turnovers: TCNJ 18, Cortland 13
Fouls: Cortland 33, TCNJ 13