Glassboro, NJ - Senior SERENA HITCHINS scored the go-ahead goal with 7:23 remaining and third-seeded Montclair State came up with big defensive plays down the stretch as the third-seeded Red Hawks knocked off second-seeded Rowan University, 10-9 in the semifinals of the NJAC Women's Lacrosse Championship on Wednesday evening.

LINDSAY LARE and KASEY MAGUIRE each collected hat tricks as the Red Hawks avenged two excruciating losses to the Profs in the last two conference tournaments, advancing to the NJAC Championship Game for the first time. The Red Hawks (12-5) will face top-seeded The College of New Jersey for the league title and automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, May 7 in Ewing, NJ. MSU fell to the Lions, 8-6 at Sprague Field on April 9.

It will be the first championship game appearance for the Red Hawks since winning the last of its seven Skyline Conference crowns in 2013. Montclair became a full-time member of the NJAC the following season.

MSU flipped the script on the Profs Wednesday as the two engaged in another close contest. In the last two years, Montclair State won the regular-season meeting only to see Rowan pull out victories at Sprague Field, including a 12-11 win in 2015. This year it was the Profs taking the regular-season contest 13-10 in Glassboro on April 9 which earned them home field advantage. This time it was Montclair's turn as collected just its fifth win all-time against Rowan in 29 all-time meetings.

An early two-goal lead would later turn into a back and forth affair as neither team led by more than one after Maguire and CHELSEA ORBAN opened the game with goals for MSU, the latter coming 4:27 into the game. Megan Donnelly tied the game with 7:25 to play before halftime however Orban scored to put MSU back in front with over five minutes remaining.

Danielle Hubbs and Kelly O'Brioen scored 1:45 apart late in the half to give Rowan its firs lead at 5-4 but Maguire's unassisted goal with 1:52 to play sent the teams into the break deadlocked at 5-5.

The teams would trade the first six goals in the half as the lead changed hands four times. Rachel Hofbauer gave Rowan the lead with 13:40 remaining however Maguire knotted the game for the sixth time finishing off a feed from Lare with 11:13 to go. Lare scored one of her own 45 seconds later as Montclair went back in front but Hobauer connected for Rowan tying the game at 9-9 with 11:13 left.

A turnover would lead to the go-ahead goal with 7:23 left as Hitchins scored. She then pulled in the ensuing draw which allowed Montclair State to run three minutes off the lock. Rowan forced a turnover but gave it right back with NICOLE FRANCIS scooping up the ground ball with 3:20 showing .

Giselle Cortes forced a turnover with 1:28 on the clock giving Rowan possession. The Profs moved down the field and got off a shot that was knocked away by MSU goalkeeper REBECCA MYERS. Rowan got one more chance with possession in the final minute however the Profs could not muster a shot on goal.

Myers finished with eight saves for the Red Hawks, who got three caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls from MEREDITH KING. FRANCESCA VERRONE forced a pair of turnovers along with three ground balls while LAYAL ISSA recorded two ground balls.