Montclair, NJ – Senior attack LINDSAY LARE scored three goals while freshman goalkeeper AMANDA MAGUIRE stopped 13 shots as second-seeded Montclair State advanced to the title game of the NJAC Women's Lacrosse Championship with a 10-6 victory over third-seeded Rowan University on Wednesday afternoon.

Senior AVIANA PARAGGIO collected a pair of goals with FRANCESCA VERRONE adding a goal and two assists as the Red Hawks moved into the league championship game for the second straight season. Montclair will face top-seeded and top-ranked The College of New Jersey for the conference crown and NCAA automatic bid on Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 pm in Ewing, NJ.

TCNJ advanced to the finals with a 9-2 win over fourth-seeded Stockton University. The Lions defeated Montclair State 8-3 in Ewing, NJ back on April 1.

For the fourth straight season, Montclair and Rowan were meeting in the semifinals but for the first time the home team won the contest as the Red Hawks recorded their third consecutive victory against the Profs.

After Rowan took a 1-0 lead 56 seconds into the contest, Verrone scored off a free position attempts and Lare tallied unassisted with 25:27 left in the opening period giving Montclair a 2-1 advantage. The Profs registered the next two goals to go back on top however Verrone found Paraggio with 11:15 left to tie the game. JESSICA ANDREULA added the go-ahead goal with 2:17 to go before halftime as MSU led 4-3 at the break.

GRACE CONLON and Lare each netted a goal within the first five minutes of the second half widening the Montclair State lead to 6-3. Taylor Gretz got one back for the Profs, but Lare countered with her third making the score 7-4 with 13:15 to play.

Gretz connected again for Rowan inside 10 minutes but MEGAN MAHLSTADT fed Paraggio for a goal two minutes later and a goal by CHELSEA ORBAN gave Montclair a 9-5 lead with 5:22 left. Gretz's third goal pulled the Profs within three however Mahlstadt iced the game with an unassisted tally with 1:41 remaining.

Maguire had five ground balls to go along with her 13 saves, one shy of her season high of 14 which she made against Rowan in the regular-season meeting back on April 8. Lare had five draws while LAYAL ISSA forced four turnovers in addition to posting a team-best six ground balls.