Upper Montclair, NJ (11/5/02) - Junior forward BETH RALEIGH (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) scored a pair of goals as top-ranked Rowan University captured the 2002 New Jersey Athletic Conference Field Hockey championship with a 3-0 victory over Montclair State at a rainy Sprague Field on Tuesday evening.
KELLY ROSE (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) added a goal and an assist for the Profs, who completed their regular-season with a perfect 17-0 record, including a 4-0 mark in the NJAC. Junior goaltender CHRISTINE BUTEAS (S. Plainfield, NJ/S. Plainfield) stopped five shots to post her eighth shutout of the season.
Rose gave Rowan the only scoring it would need at the 19:25 mark of the first half. Off a penalty corner, Rose collected the loose ball out of the air and smacked it into the cage past Montclair State keeper
TRISHA WINKLE (Forked River, NJ/Lacey Township). The Profs then made it 2-0 as they were awarded a penalty corner as time expired in the first half. Raleigh made it count as she banged home a bouncing ball out front for her 11th goal of the season.
Raleigh made the final score in the 61st minute as she tapped in an initial save by Winkle off a shot by Rose. It was the 12th of the year for Raleigh.
Winkle made five saves for Montclair State, which has lost two straight following a four-game winning streak. The Red Hawks (11-5, 2-2 NJAC) were outshot in the contest, 16-6.
The Red Hawks will now await for a potential bid into the ECAC Division III Mid-Atlantic Tournament, which begins on November 13th. Bids will be announced on November 11th. MSU is the defending champion as they topped Catholic University, 1-0, in last year's title game.
